Industry News


Key regulatory tool put on hold due to coronavirus


England’s regulator of social housing has decided to pause its programme of in-depth assessments during the current coronavirus crisis.


The regulator said that any IDAs already under way in mid March would either be completed online or deferred, while it would not start any new assessments. It said the situation would be kept under review.


IDAs - where the regulator’s staff review


information on providers, request a variety of documents and carry out on-site interviews as well as observing Board meetings - are one of the main regulatory tools currently in use. However, they are also labour intensive


and use up a lot of resources at both the regulator and at the housing associations being assessed. They require a lot of planning and generally have a long lead-in period, with HAs normally given several months notice of the time they can expect an IDA. The regulator said it still expects social


housing landlords to inform it of anything that may relate to non-compliance with its standards. This could range from a failure to complete safety works in a timely manner, or breaking a financial covenant.


“As ever, our regulatory approach remains proportionate and we will take account of the circumstances, including those arising from the impact of coronavirus,” it added.


Local authorities award new multi-year contracts for repair and improvement of council houses


of repair and maintenance works to local authority clients. Wates Living Space has been appointed by


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Crawley Borough Council to deliver a ten-year programme of responsive repairs, planned maintenance and work to refurbish void properties across the West Sussex borough from April. Wates is one of two contractors employed to


carry out responsive repairs to Crawley’s stock of 9,400 residential properties and 5,000 garages over a ten-year period. Crawley’s cabinet member for Housing,


Councillor Ian Irvine, said: “This is great news for our council tenants, who will continue to receive top quality service. Here at the council we have a thought process to ensure we get the best possible deal for both the organisation and our residents.” Meanwhile in the Midlands, Wates Living Space


has been reappointed by Tamworth Borough Council to deliver a ten-year programme of housing repairs across the borough. The council’s recent three-year contract with


Wates ended on 31 March. The new 10-year agreement is valued in the region of £50 million and will see Wates undertake planned works to the council’s 4,200 houses, including new kitchens, new bathrooms, external work and any other planned improvement projects.


6 | HMM April/May 2020 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


leading social housing maintenance company has landed two multi million pound contracts to deliver a range


Cllr Michelle Cook, Tamworth Borough


Council’s cabinet member for Housing Services and Communities, said: “Providing decent affordable homes is one of our main priorities and represents a significant proportion of council spending. This means we have to achieve the best value for money possible, while ensuring our housing is of a high standard and that the service we provide to tenants is a good one.” Day-to-day and out of hours emergency repairs,


as well as repairs to void properties, aids and adaptations, planned maintenance, annual gas servicing and repairs to other council property, will be undertaken by ENGIE, in a 10-year contract worth around £67million. Both of the Tamworth contracts also have a


strong focus on delivering a range of benefits to the wider community to ensure the ongoing work of both ENGIE and Wates has a positive impact on the lives of residents in the area. These include vocational qualifications


and apprenticeship opportunities for local people, the provision of digital training courses in construction, and improvements to a council-owned facility such as a play area or community building. Other activities to be delivered as part of the contract include community DIY workshops, projects to provide enhanced and improved security for vulnerable residents and helping to tackle fuel poverty and causes of damp/condensation.


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