Who we are
We're Gateway, a housing association with deep roots in East London.
We've provided affordable housing in East London since 1926. Today, we're focused on providing good-quality homes, managing them well and supporting our communities to thrive.
Our purpose
Our purpose is to provide great homes for people in East London and support our communities to thrive.
Our customers are at the heart of what we do. We listen to your needs, views and feedback and focus on providing services that are responsive and inclusive.
Our story
Our story in East London goes back to 1926.
Gateway started out as Bethnal Green Housing Association. Our first development, Queen Margaret Flats, opened in 1929 and is still owned and managed by us today.
We registered as a charity in 1961.
In 1982, Victoria Park Housing Association began developing shared ownership homes, another way into home ownership for local people.
In 1993, Bethnal Green Housing Association joined with Victoria Park Housing Association. That same year, more than 100 new homes opened on the former Bethnal Green Hospital site, including homes for older people and people with additional needs.
We became Gateway Housing Association in 2008, when Bethnal Green and East London Housing Association, Victoria Park Housing Association and Labo Housing Association came together to form the Gateway Housing Association we know today.
In 2026, we celebrated 100 years of Gateway. It's a century of providing homes for people in East London and supporting local communities to thrive.
While things have changed, our connection to East London and our commitment to providing good homes and supporting our communities are the same.
Our values
Our values guide how we work with customers, colleagues and partners. They shape how we behave, the decisions we make and the standards we expect of ourselves.
We're committed to being:
- Passionate - We care about what we do and the difference we make
- Accountable - We take ownership and do what we say we will do
- Connected - We work together and build strong relationships.
- Excellence - We continually look for ways to improve and deliver our best.
Creating inclusive communities
We want Gateway to be a place where everyone feels valued, respected and included.
We work to understand the communities we serve, remove barriers and make sure different voices are heard.
We challenge discrimination, promote equality and work to make our services and workplace inclusive and accessible.
