We all recognise how important it is to know the condition of your homes and to ensure they fully comply with the Decent Homes Standard.

Your business and financial plans depend on accurate, robust stock condition data, as do your planned programmes and repair priorities.

Most importantly, providing homes for your tenants that are safe and secure is your number one priority as a social landlord. And that also involves engaging with tenants and knowing their needs and priorities.

However, gaps in stock condition data and non-compliance with the Decent Homes Standard remain some of the key reasons behind the Regulator of Social Housing’s C3 and C4 gradings.

That’s why HQN has put together this practical masterclass. Join our experts and practitioners to take an in-depth look at “everything to do with stock condition and decency”. The session will take you through the challenges associated with meeting, and evidencing that you meet, the Decent Homes Standard and the practical solutions.

Plus, we’ll do some horizon scanning looking ahead at the future Decent Homes Standard and its implications.

Mike Victory-Rowe, asset management expert and HQN associate, will chair the session and explore requirements around stock quality, asset data and intelligence, as well as listening to what your tenants say about the quality of their home. He’ll point out the common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Mairead Carroll from RICS will talk about the latest best practice on stock condition surveys, including the new industry Code of Practice.

Steve Ellard from Ongo, will lift the lid on what compliance with the Decent Homes Standard looks like as part of the day job – planning cycles, survey choices, evidence trails, and the governance that keeps everything on track. Expect a pragmatic walkthrough of Ongo’s approach: how they structure stock condition programmes, connect survey outputs to works planning and budgets, create reliable assurance, and report progress and risks to leadership and the board. The focus is on practical methods that busy teams can replicate quickly – templates, checkpoints, and “what good looks like” on the ground.

This masterclass will help you strengthen your approach to decent homes compliance and stock condition.  You’ll go away with a much better understanding of what’s required and the gaps to address.

What will be covered:

• Stock condition survey design and methodology: scope, sampling, QA, ensuring surveyors capture the right data first time
• In-house vs outsourced surveys: costs, quality control, effectiveness and the added value of in-house teams
• Data essentials: defining the dataset, storage and governance, integration, validation, and keeping data up to date
• ‘Magic numbers’ for assurance: the must-know, must have metrics the Regulator of Social Housing is looking for (and how to evidence compliance)
• No-access strategies: resident-centred communications that reduce failed appointments and repeat visits
• Linking data to decisions and actions: using the data eg rapid triage of red flags, tackling hazards promptly
• Joining the dots: feeding stock intelligence into AMS, planned maintenance and business/financial plans
• KPIs and reporting: dashboards for boards, managers and residents; what good looks like
• Aligning stock condition information with tenants’ needs and priorities.

Who should attend:

• Asset managers, heads of property/repairs and surveying leads
• Assurance/compliance and health and safety leads
• Finance/business planning colleagues linking AMS to budgets
• Data/BI and IT/systems specialists responsible for data
• Resident engagement and communications teams.

10:30am – Welcome and introduction

• Mike Victory‑Rowe, MRICS, HQN Associate

10:35am – How to get it right

• Mike Victory‑Rowe, MRICS, HQN Associate

  • Decency – what are the expectations?
  • Data, intelligence and algorithms
  • Knowing and listening to your tenants
  • Common bear traps and how to avoid them.

11:35am – Break

11:50am – Latest guidance on stock condition surveys and update on the new industry standard

• Mairead Carroll, Property Specialist RICS

  • Stock condition survey Code of Practice – the latest update
  • Standardising the approach to the data collected and consistency of data
  • The importance of gaining a comprehensive picture of the condition of social housing
  • The benefits of having a sector-wide consistent approach and what to do to achieve this.

12:20pm – Dealing with the day-to-day practicalities

• Steve Ellard, Director of Property, Ongo Homes

  • Planning and managing DHS compliance
  • Ongo’s approach to stock condition surveys
  • Getting assurance (internal and external)
  • Evidence
  • Auditing
  • Reporting to the board.

12:55pm – Closing remarks

• Mike Victory-Rowe, MRICS, HQN Associate

1:00pm – 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.