A housing association has bought up a private firm managing some 20,000 private sector properties in a deal worth £16m. Places for People, which manages more than 60,000 homes, said the deal with Touchstone will help it grow its private rented portfolio over the medium term. It already manages over 3,000 market rented homes and has been operating in the sector for 14 years. It established its Blueroom private rented sector subsidiary in 1999. The investment comes on the back of housing minister ...