Gareth Swarbrick

Chief Executive, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing

Gareth started his career in housing with Oldham Council in 1989 as a Clerical Officer.

He moved into housing management in 1990 and moved to work in Rochdale in 1992 as a Neighbourhood Housing Officer. Between 1996 and 2002 he worked in Rochdale’s Housing Strategy Unit and he led on Rochdale’s bid for ALMO status and on the implementation of the ALMO model. From 2002 to 2007 Gareth was RBH’s Business Support Director. He was appointed permanent Chief Executive in December 2008.
Since becoming Chief Executive Gareth has successfully led the organisation through a stock transfer process which was voted for overwhelmingly by tenants in December 2011 with the transfer taking place in March 2012. The stock transfer was to become the first model of its kind for housing in the UK: a mutual organisation owned by those that deliver and receive the services: tenants and employees.

Gareth is extremely proud that RBH has this week (15 months after transfer) become the first housing mutual to be co-owned by both tenants and employees on a one member one vote basis. He is confident that by working together and using our exceptional position as a mutual RBH can provide high quality homes in friendly, welcoming communities.