By Alistair McIntosh, HQN CEO

We’re starting to see how the world has changed since the pandemic. Front pages scream out that Grant Shapps is tearing into P&O as ship after ship fails safety inspections. Yes, he’s the same guy that abolished inspection for housing. But the world moves on. We’re now living in a highly interventionist naming and shaming state.

It worked during Covid and much of that style of government will stick around. You can’t get away with anything these days. Cameras are everywhere. We know (or will know) who went to the Number 10 parties and we know (or will know) who the poor landlords are. That’s what the new White Paper is there for.

Inspection is back no matter what the White Paper does or doesn’t do. Look at what Kwajo Tweneboa has achieved with one camera to expose poor standards. That’s not going away. And now a Dragon backs him there’s a good chance that his nationwide organisation will emerge to hold us to account. The official regulator of social housing won’t be the only sheriff in town. My hunch is that the RSH will welcome the new members of the posse with open arms.

So, how do you get ready for the new era? Here are my top five tips:

1.    Make sure your top team is in tune with the times
In the worst days of austerity, leaders resorted to “ducking and diving”, in their words, to get by. This time around we need folk with a bit of empathy. On top of that we’ve got to have the right sort of technical experts on tap. And sound financial management never goes out of fashion.

2.    Get your facts straight
Make sure you know every nook and cranny of your homes. Find out what needs fixing and by when. Line up the money to pay for it, if you can. The RSH is red hot on checking data and rightly so. They know all the tricks. When you see problems, draw up your own improvement plans.

3.    Get on the right track with residents
Your tenants don’t want much. All they’re asking for is safe homes in a pleasant environment. When you do talk to residents, follow up by acting on what they say. Do all you can to build up trust, as once it’s gone it may never come back.

4.    Open up
Publish everything. But make it readable. The best annual reports do this well. Cynon Taff put the CEO’s salary in its annual report and the world didn’t come to an end.

5.    To see ourselves as others see us
Inspect your own services, get your tenants to help or maybe even ask Kwajo to visit. Talk to your frontline staff – they know what’s going on. If you don’t check yourself, you’ll wind up on the news looking like a rabbit in the headlights.

Last thought. I could’ve written a very clever critique of the White Paper clauses. But that’d be to completely miss the point. Time to crack on.