Members only

In May 2023, Fiona MacGregor, Chief Executive of the Regulator of Social Housing at the Social Housing Finance Conference 2023 was asked ‘if a rolling five-year stock condition survey still meets the threshold of up-to-date data on stock quality’. She said: ‘It depends on your starting point and it depends on what you mean by your stock condition survey.’

There are many changes afoot:

As part of the government’s programme of reform to improve the quality of social housing, the government relaunched its review of the Decent Homes Standard in June 2023. We await the end of the DHS2 review and further guidance, on the decency standard in 2024.

This review will consider a range of changes, including:

1. An updated list of items which must be kept in a reasonable state of repair for a home to be considered ‘decent’.
2. An updated list of services and facilities that every property must have to better reflect modern expectations for a ‘decent’ home.
3. Whether the current Decent Homes Standard sets the right standard on damp and mould to keep tenants safe.
4. Updates to how the condition of building components, such as roofs and walls, are measured – to make sure that buildings which are not fit for use cannot pass the standard.

With the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 receiving Royal Assent the revised standards will replace the existing set from 1 April 2024. The Safety and Quality Standard will become the sector standard for stock quality, decency, health and safety, repairs, maintenance, and planned improvements and adaptations.

This means that having a traditional stock condition survey of all your homes that is updated every five years is unlikely to be sufficient. A specific expectation around stock quality is that landlords must use wider asset data and intelligence to inform their provision of good quality, well-maintained and safe homes for tenants. It will need to be enhanced to ensure your homes are truly decent by  – listening to what your tenants say about the quality of their home, your repairs history, your investment demands, thermal efficiency, damp and mould issues.

This workshop will consider all the implications and the different approaches and solutions. Delegates will go away with a better understanding of:

• New consumer standards and DHS2
• New HHSRS standards
• Awaab’s law – dealing with defective housing
• Maintain quality SCS data that truly reflect all your homes
• Tenant satisfaction measures
• EPC C by 2030.

And actions to take to make sure they are ready.

What previous delegates of this session have said:

“A highly informative session covering decent homes and stock condition in detail. It was useful to hear from different speakers, who were all knowledgeable on different aspects of the subject, and find out about how an organisation has successfully implemented a programme of improvements in their delivery.”

“Really informative presentations, speakers were clear and knowledgeable.”

“Excellent delivery and knowledge from all speakers.”

“Very helpful and enlightening session which has given us a lot to work with in the coming months.”

Mike Victory-Rowe, Consultant, HQN

Mike is a chartered building surveyor with 30 years’ property asset management and social housing experience. Mike has extensive experience in senior managerial and leadership roles in a customer-facing housing organisation across multiple service areas. As Assistant Director of Asset Management for Knightstone Housing (2007-2016), he had responsibility for the development and delivery of strategic asset management. Over the last 7 years, Mike has helped social housing landlords develop their strategic asset management thinking and produces asset management strategies and delivery plans.

Emma Richman, Executive Director of Operations, Peaks and Plains Housing Trust

Emma is an award winning Housing Professional with a career in housing that spans over 28 years, she is currently the Executive Director of Operations at Peaks and Plains Housing Trust and is also an Independent Non Executive at First Choice Homes Oldham.

Emma is a qualified Architect and Building Surveyor and she also sits on National housing federation committees that cover quality of existing homes and building safety.

Emma is a Board Member of Manchester Women’s Aid including The Pankhurst Trust and is currently National Vice Chair of Women in Property. She also won Woman of the Year at the 2018 Woman in Housing Awards.

Simon Williams, Assistant Director of Repairs, Peaks and Plains Housing Trust

Simon has been a Senior Manager in Assets, Repairs and Maintenance for over 15 years. He has overseen the growth of compliance across the sector from gas and electric through to fire, homes standard, disrepair and more recently damp and mould.

Simon has been part of IDA’s at 3 organisations and has built a reputation for data driven, compliant working processes that enable organisations to demonstrate their position and move forward with prudent and efficient programmes. Simon has managed DSO’s from 250 to 50 in size delivering various work programmes. He has a vast experience of ensuring the right delivery model to suit the financial and performance needs of the organisation.

Lisa Earle, Head of Customer and Improvement, Peaks and Plains Housing Trust

Lisa is an experienced housing professional and proud member of both CIH and CMI with a 26-year career within the sector. Her journey, marked by diverse roles with housing providers of varying sizes, reflects a commitment to excellence. Currently serving as the Head of Customer and Improvement at Peaks & Plains Housing Trust, Lisa’s leadership is characterised by a fervent dedication to transformative projects.

Lisa’s passion for business improvement is deeply rooted in her appreciation for the transformative power of robust data. Her role at Peaks & Plains Housing Trust underscores her commitment to enhancing customer experiences and fostering community well-being. Beyond her professional endeavours, Lisa actively engages with a local homeless charity, embodying her commitment to social responsibility. Additionally, she ardently mentors and supports young individuals, empowering them to navigate their initial tenancies successfully and achieve independence. Lisa’s multifaceted contributions to both her professional field and the community epitomise a career marked by purpose and positive impact.

Alec Gaston, Assistant Director of Asset Management, Compliance and Development, Peaks and Plains Housing Trust

Alec has worked in social housing since 1997, starting his career in housing management. Since 2010, he has been responsible for asset management working for a number of organisations in senior positions. In 2023, Alec became responsible for development at the Trust as part of an organisational restructure. This new role enables him to link and balance investment in existing homes with the development of new properties.

10.30 Welcome and introductions

10.35 Introduction to Peaks and Plains and being one of the first pilots for the consumer standards

• • Emma Richman, Executive Director of Operations, Peaks and Plains Housing Trust

10.50 Peaks and Plains approach to damp and mould

• • Simon Williams, Assistant Director of Repairs, Peaks and Plains Housing Trust

11.05 The key to improved services and tenant satisfaction

• • Lisa Earle, Head of Customer and Improvement, Peaks and Plains Housing Trust

11.20 Active asset management and case studies

• • Alec Gaston, Assistant Director of Asset Management, Compliance and Development, Peaks and Plains Housing Trust

11.35 Break

11.45 Do you know the quality of your homes?

• • Mike Victory-Rowe, Consultant, HQN

12.45 Questions and discussions

13.30 Close

If you are unable to attend an event or public training course, please let us know in writing (email is fine) at least 48 hours before. Please email [email protected]

Otherwise, a cancellation fee of £60 plus VAT will be chargeable.

If you are using a package place to attend and do not inform us within the agreed time frame, then a place will be taken to cover your non-attendance.

Cancellations must be made in writing, and will be acknowledged by HQN Limited.