Midlands association handed A+ rating by Fitch as demand stays strong

Fitch added: “Strong demand for low-cost housing, expected cost efficiencies and cross-subsidisation from shared ownership sales should allow Platform to maintain consistent cash flows and sufficient revenue to service debts and support their development plan.”

It is the second stamp of approval for the Solihull-based landlord this year after credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s reaffirmed its A+ (stable) rating last month.

Elizabeth Froude, chief executive of Platform, said the additional rating would help the group “access the funding that we need to invest in our homes and our communities”.

In its last reported full-year accounts, the group built 1,448 homes – a nine per cent drop on the prior year.

It made its capital markets debut with a £350m maiden bond in July last year, achieving a coupon of 1.625 per cent on the 35-year issuance.

First credit rating for Onward

Meanwhile, 35,000-home landlord Onward has been handed an A1 rating with a stable outlook by agency Moody’s.

In the assessment, its first rating on the provider, Moody’s said that the Accrington-based landlord has a “very strong balance sheet with low debt, high interest cover ratios, and strong liquidity”.

But Moody’s said the rating also reflects Onward’s “comparatively weak profitability”, which the rating agency expects will “persist”.

Moody’s added: “The group’s operating margin stood at 17 per cent in fiscal 2020, among the lowest of rated peers, driven by low profitability on its social housing lettings.

“The operating margin is expected to remain low, averaging 18 per cent over the next three years driven by higher fire safety and management costs on its social housing lettings in addition to low margins on its market sales.”