Codi: What the Pobl and Linc Cymru Merger Means for Welsh Contract Holders

In April 2024, Pobl Group and Linc Cymru announced they were merging to form a new combined organisation, now operating under the name Codi. Pobl was already one of the largest housing associations in Wales, and the merger created an even larger combined landlord across South Wales, West Wales and beyond.

If you are a contract holder with either organisation, you are now a Codi contract holder. Almost nothing in your rights changes, but the contact details, complaints process and branding have shifted, and it is worth knowing what to look out for.

Why the merger happened

Both Pobl and Linc Cymru cited the same drivers in their joint announcement: rising decarbonisation costs, the Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2 (WHQS2) deadline, demand for more new affordable homes, and the operational pressure of running two back-office functions instead of one. Bringing the two together releases capacity that is meant to go back into existing homes and into new build.

What stays the same

Your occupation contract under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 does not change because your landlord has merged. Specifically:

• Your occupation contract remains valid. The successor landlord steps into the original landlord's shoes.
• Your rent and rent review terms continue under the same contract.
• Your fundamental terms (the ones that cannot be removed or weakened, including the landlord's repairing obligation) are unchanged.
• Your complaints route continues, an internal complaint first builds the audit trail. If the landlord leaves disrepair unfixed, you may have a claim, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
• Your regulatory protection is unchanged. Codi is regulated by Welsh Government as a Registered Social Landlord.

What does change

• The legal landlord name on correspondence will eventually shift to the new entity. Read every letter, do not assume it is junk just because the logo is different.
• The contact phone numbers, repair portal and complaints email may be re-routed during the integration period. Check Codi's current website before sending in writing.
• Service standards may temporarily drift. Mergers consistently produce a dip in repair turnaround in the first 6 to 12 months as systems are merged. If your repair has been outstanding since before April 2024, the merger is not a reason for further delay, flag the original report date in any complaint.
• Local housing officers may change. Make sure any new officer has your full case history. Do not assume they have read the old file.

Your repair rights under Welsh law

Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, every occupation contract includes "fitness for human habitation" as a fundamental term. The landlord must keep the dwelling fit. The Welsh regulations on fitness specifically list 23 hazards (drawn from the Housing Health and Safety Rating System) including damp and mould, excess cold, electrical hazards, and falls. Your contract holder rights also include the standard repairing obligation: the landlord must keep the structure, exterior, and key installations (heating, hot water, sanitation, electrics, gas) in repair.

See our full guide on contract holder rights in Wales.

What to do if Codi is not fixing your home

1. Report in writing. Use the current Codi portal or email, keep the reference.
2. Use the formal complaints procedure. Codi must have a published procedure; follow it through to final response.
3. Document everything. Photos, dates, doctor's letters, copies of all reports.
4. Get advice on a claim if the landlord fails to put things right. The legal framework in Wales is different from England, and so are the remedies under the 2016 Act. You may have a claim, call us free on 0800 030 4669.

Compensation in Wales

Disrepair compensation for Welsh contract holders is calculated on similar principles to England, a percentage of rent paid during the period the home was not fit, plus general damages and the cost of replacing damaged belongings. The Renting Homes (Wales) Act gives additional remedies where the fitness term has been breached. Awards generally fall in a similar range to England (£3,000 to £15,000 in straightforward cases) but the legal route is different and the limitation periods can vary.

Get help

If you are a Codi contract holder dealing with damp, mould, leaks, electrical safety failings or unresolved repairs, call Support for Tenants on 0800 030 4669 for a free assessment. We are a regulated company, not a law firm, we work with solicitors who handle Welsh housing disrepair on a no-win-no-fee basis.

Support For Tenants is a trading name of Cyntex Group Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a Claims Management Company. FRN 1020217. Registered in England and Wales.