The contract, estimated to be one of the biggest in the housing association maintenance sector , covers an initial five-year period and is worth up to £30m per year, with an option to extend this for a further five years.

Signing of the deal had previously been challenged by rival Breyer Group, but a judge ruled the signing should be allowed to go-ahead because it was in the public interest.

It concludes a set of similar deals with Keepmoat, Kier and Morrison, which was bought by Mears last the end of last year, to consolidate the number of firms Circle uses across the country.

United House will carry out all of the association’s planned maintenance and gas servicing work in its southern region, covering three areas of former smaller housing associations that are now part of the Circle Group – Merton Priory in south west London, Mole Valley in the Dorking and Leatherhead area of Surrey and Russet Homes in the Tonbridge area of Kent.

As part of the contract, United House will take on around 50 apprentices to deliver the works.

The scope of works covers all aspects of planned maintenance and will include kitchen and bathroom replacement, door and window replacement, central heating upgrades, rewiring, ground maintenance and cleaning, external repairs and decoration, gas servicing, lift upgrades and roof replacement.

United House will start work on site in all areas at the start of April.

Jeffrey Adams, Group Chief Executive of United House, said: “We have built a strong long-term relationship with Circle Housing Group and it is a real achievement for us to be awarded this large scale contract.”