New Social Housing Stock Condition Survey Standard to be developed by RICS and NHF

London, UK, 26 September 2024: The UK Government has made housing a top priority on its agenda, introducing a new stock condition survey standard as a timely measure to help landlords consistently and accurately improve the quality of social housing. This new standard provides housing associations and local authorities with a uniform approach to assessing home conditions, enabling them to identify and address quality issues more effectively. Ultimately, this initiative aims to ensure that social housing residents live in well-maintained, high-quality homes.

Most of the housing associations regularly conduct stock condition surveys. However, the members of the NHF believe that a standard approach to gathering this information would boost the confidence of both landlords and residents. This new standard will incorporate current regulatory requirements and will be adjusted as needed to align with future changes, including the upcoming Decent Homes Standard.

The new standard, developed in collaboration with housing associations and key stakeholders such as the National Federation of ALMOs and the Association of Retained Council Housing, is expected to be completed and launched in 2025. Resident feedback will be included throughout the development process to ensure housing associations can learn from their experiences.

In an  official press release by RICS, Justin Young, CEO of RICS, stated, “The UK needs a data-driven, fact-focused social housing sector. A comprehensive stock condition survey, designed with the expertise of RICS members, will eliminate the uncertainty about the quality of the UK’s social housing stock”.

This partnership with the NHF is timely, especially in light of the government’s plan to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years. Addressing the housing crisis necessitates not only the construction of new homes but also the renovation and retrofitting of existing ones to enhance their quality, quantity, and sustainability. Initial feedback from housing associations has been positive, and there appears to be strong political will to prioritise housing.

In the press release, Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, also added, “Everyone deserves a good quality, safe, warm, and affordable home. We are dedicated to helping our housing association members implement the recommendations of the Better Social Housing Review and ensure every tenant receives excellent service from their landlord”.

This survey will be an invaluable tool, enabling the sector to consistently assess the quality of their homes and instilling confidence in both landlords and residents. It also supports the ongoing efforts of housing associations to enhance their homes and services, including reviewing repair processes and increasing investment in existing homes by 20% over the past two years.