South west council to ramp up stock condition surveys to clear backlog
Bristol City Council has announced plans to increase its stock condition surveys in order to cope with a backlog and to take more proactive action against damp and mould. According to a report, the council, which manages nearly 27,000 homes, is seeking approval to hire a contractor to carry out an “enhanced” stock inspection programme, with the goal of inspecting 40% of the stock annually. The surveys will focus on properties that have not been surveyed before or that have not been surveyed in the past five years or more.
The reason for ramping up the survey schedule is due to the delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and contracting issues which have created a backlog of surveys requiring completion. The council is proposing to complete condition surveys for 40% of their housing stock over a 12-month period.
Hiring an outside company to carry out the surveys will cost the council £1m for a one-year contract with the option to extend for another year, subject to a satisfactory performance. The council has a rolling five-year programme that aims to conduct 5,000 surveys per year. However, since 2020, the council has not been able to meet these performance benchmarks due to restricted access during the pandemic and difficulties recruiting and retaining staff.
Stock condition surveys are an important tool for identifying and resolving individual housing problems and predicting future investment needs. Inspecting 40% of the stock annually will help to clear the backlog of inspections, improve data, and proactively identify and address moisture and mould within the inventory.
Additional Piece
The damp and mould problem in housing is a continuous struggle faced by many homeowners and tenants in the UK. It can lead to serious health problems such as asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections, which can be debilitating for people with pre-existing conditions. According to recent statistics, nearly 30% of UK residents experience damp and mould in their homes, which has a profound impact on their quality of life.
The recent announcement by Bristol City Council to ramp up their stock condition surveys in an attempt to proactively address the problem is a step in the right direction. However, it is not a solution that should be limited to Bristol or even South West councils. It is high time for all councils throughout the UK to take proactive measures to alleviate the damp and mould issue in their respective areas.
One effective solution is for councils to provide homeowners and tenants with the resources they need to identify and prevent damp and mould growth in their homes. Homeowners and tenants can be provided with leaflets and brochures on how to spot the early signs of damp and mould growth, including how to effectively ventilate their homes to prevent it from reoccurring.
Furthermore, councils can conduct educational campaigns that raise awareness of the issue and provide practical solutions to prevent damp and mould growth. It is essential to educate the public on this issue, as many people are unaware of the adverse health effects that damp and mould can cause, and as a result, will not seek the help they need to tackle the problem.
In conclusion, Bristol City Council’s efforts to address the ongoing issue of damp and mould growth in their housing stock is a step in the right direction. However, much more needs to be done to tackle the problem effectively. The provision of resources and education campaigns is an essential step in empowering homeowners and tenants to take proactive measures in preventing and addressing damp and mould growth.
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Bristol City Council plans to increase its stock status surveys in a bid to cope with a backlog and help it take proactive action against damp and mold.
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According to a report, the council, which manages nearly 27,000 homes, is seeking approval to hire a contractor to carry out an “enhanced” stock inspection program, with the goal of inspecting 40% of the stock. year.
The goal is to eliminate the backlog of inspections after their schedule was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and contracting issues.
The surveys will focus on properties that have not been surveyed before or that have not been surveyed for an extended period of time, more than five years.
The council plans to hire an outside company to carry out the surveys for a one-year contract worth £1m, with the option to extend for another year, subject to satisfactory performance.
According to the report, the council has a rolling five-year program that aims to conduct 5,000 surveys per year.
However, he claimed council performance levels have been “significantly down” since 2020, due to limited access during the pandemic and difficulties recruiting and retaining staff to get the job done.
The report stated: “Stock status surveys are an important tool for identifying and resolving individual housing problems and for predicting future investment needs.
“By inspecting 40% of inventory per year, we will be dealing with the backlog of inspections, improving our data, and proactively taking steps to identify and address moisture and mold within our inventory.
“We are also making sure that all homes are thoroughly inspected, as responsive maintenance or repair visits would not involve inspections of the entire property.
“We are proposing to complete stock status surveys on 40% of our housing stock over a 12-month period, to get the program back on track.”
The new program is expected to start in the fall of 2023.
Last year several of the major housing associations plans revealed Inspect all of your stock to address spoilage and decarbonization.
More recently, the Social Housing Regulator warned that five-year stock condition surveys it may no longer be enough to meet your standards.
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https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/south-west-council-to-ramp-up-stock-condition-surveys-to-clear-backlog-81768
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