United Welsh to end Mears contract and run Celtic Horizons as in-house DLO from 2027

United Welsh Group is to end its contract with Mears Group on 1 October 2027, bring the support services behind its repairs and maintenance subsidiary, Celtic Horizons Ltd, in-house and operate Celtic Horizons as a direct labour organisation.

The not-for-profit housing group, which provides homes and related services across 11 local authority areas in South Wales, said that IT, tools, vehicles and business services previously supplied to Celtic Horizons by Mears would instead be provided by United Welsh once the contract ends.

For tenants, the group said, the change is largely behind the scenes. Repair bookings and appointments will carry on as normal, customers will use the same channels to get in touch, and Celtic Horizons staff will continue to carry out repairs and maintenance in homes and communities.

Lynn Morgan, Executive Director of Property for United Welsh Group, said: "By bringing more support services for Celtic Horizons in-house, our repairs, housing and customer service teams will work more closely together, creating a more joined-up service for customers."

She added that the group would have more choice and flexibility in how repairs are delivered, and that customers would not pay more in rent or service charges as a result.

The partnership

Celtic Horizons became operational in 2013 under a tripartite agreement between United Welsh, Celtic Horizons Ltd and Mears, according to United Welsh. At the time it provided asset management services to 4,700 homes.

United Welsh describes the company, established in 2013, as a wholly owned subsidiary. In 2018 the group called it the first partnership of its kind in Wales, developed with Mears, and said tenants had given more than 400 hours over two years to help set it up. The partnership won the UK Housing 'Maintaining High-Quality Homes' award in 2015.

United Welsh said the model allowed it to bring its asset management services together in one directly employed team while drawing on Mears's service delivery expertise. Under the arrangement extended in March 2021, Mears supported Celtic Horizons with responsive repairs, empty dwellings, operational management, IT, HR, finance, health and safety, compliance and procurement.

That 2021 extension, which United Welsh valued at £7m a year, started on 1 April 2021 and was described at the time as running for seven years. The group's latest announcement gives 1 October 2027 as the contract end date and does not explain the difference.

Richard Mann, Group Chief Executive for United Welsh, said: "We are close to providing 7,000 homes, and our repairs and maintenance services continue to be the main area of importance for our customers."

He described the 13-year partnership with Mears as a successful one and said the group was grateful for the contractor's support. As Celtic Horizons moves to operating as a DLO, he said, the group is focused on having all parts of the organisation work to one set of values and customer satisfaction objectives.

Growth in stock

United Welsh's own figures show how the stock covered by Celtic Horizons has grown over the life of the arrangement.

Date	Homes covered (United Welsh figures)
2013 launch	4,700
April 2021 contract extension	6,300

United Welsh said the 2021 figure represented a 47% rise in housing stock since 2013. Its current Celtic Horizons page says the subsidiary provides repairs and maintenance for more than 6,900 homes across South Wales.

For the 2025/26 financial year, the group said, independent customer surveys found 85% of customers satisfied with the quality of their home and 78% satisfied with the way the organisation deals with repairs and maintenance.

The group

Alongside Celtic Horizons, the United Welsh Group includes timber frame manufacturer Celtic Offsite and Harmoni Homes Ltd, which builds affordable homes and homes for sale. The group says it employs more than 400 staff.

Celtic Horizons Limited, company number 07838396, is registered at Companies House as an active private limited company, with its registered office care of United Welsh Housing Association at Y Borth, 13 Beddau Way, Caerphilly.

The Mears contract runs until 1 October 2027, after which United Welsh will supply the support services itself.