4 Industry News


Managing Editor James Parker


Publisher Anthony Parker


Account Director Midge Myatt


Account Manager Nathan Hunt


Digital Marketing & PR Account Manager Suzanne Easter


Operations Director Shelley Collyer


Events Coordinator Amy Madigan


Studio Manager Mikey Pooley


Production Assistant Georgia Musson


Digital Production Coordinator Kim Musson


Feature Coordinator & Publisher’s Assistant Kim Neville


Finance Director Simon Reed


Hello and welcome to your winter edition of Housing Management and Maintenance, I hope this issue fi nds you well. However, no doubt the year ended with disappointment for you, like me, to discover that the long-awaited Warm Homes Plan would not, aſt er all, be published in December as promised.


T ere were signs of hope from Rachel Reeves’ Budget announcement that the funding for the Warm Homes Plan (the rebadged Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund), was being increased from £13.2bn to £15bn. But perhaps it was hoped this would be a handy screen for the quiet moving of the publication until an “expected” date in January.


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What was also clear was that the beleaguered ECO scheme is to fi nish with its fourth wave concluding in April 2026. As yet, there is no replacement, in the absence of a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan detailing scope, funding allocation and approved upgrade measures. DEZNZ has yet to show what the Plan will do to fi ll the gap leſt by ECO, which has upgraded hundreds of thousands of homes since 2013, and there is consternation across the sector on social media, as retrofi tters hold their breath.


No doubt attempting to iron out many of the wrinkles and issues within the Plan, such as how to ensure verifi ed, robust installations and avoid the horrors recently reported from some ECO projects, is the cause of delay, as funding seems to have been resolved. But, given that we are talking about bricks and mortar as well as the many complexities of disrupting residents, perhaps there is not enough joined up working between DESNZ and the Ministry of Housing?


Our recent sponsored round table looked at the various challenges for social housing teams from decarbonisation and Warm Homes, and the report on page 13 helps to explain why the experts believe that joined-up Government is crucial. It’s a shame the centre doesn’t pay more attention.


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James Parker DECEMBER/JANUARY 2026


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On the cover...


The fi rst homes at VIVID’s Southampton Road development in Fareham are now complete. Photo credit: VIVID


See page 06. HMM_1201_2026 Covers.indd 1 HOUSING MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE


FULFILLING AFFORDABLE DEMAND IN FAREHAM


Residents are already moving in to VIVID and Hampshire Homes’ 100% aff ordable scheme in Fareham, Hants, with the fi rst units recently completed


Editor’s Comment


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18/12/2025 11:29


Housing Management & Maintenance December/January 2026


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