AUTUMN 2025 DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 25
COVER STORY - FUSION21
Condition Reports (EICRs)
every 昀椀ve years. This brings
the sector in line with private
rental standards, initially for new
tenancies and, from May 2026,
for all tenancies.
These new regulations place
greater scrutiny on landlords to
react quickly to address health
and safety hazards, focusing
on serious issues that pose a
potential risk to tenants’ health.
This is not new to the sector.
There has always been a
requirement to properly maintain
properties, identify hazards and
manage them in a timely manner.
What has changed are the
stricter timescales and tougher
penalties for failing to respond
quickly.
What landlords need to do
right now
Procurement can help landlords
get the right contractors and
processes in place to comply with
the new regulations, but there are
actions that need to be taken 昀椀rst.
Oliver Mooney, Head of
Category at Fusion21, said: “The
昀椀rst thing landlords need to do
is to look at what contracts they
currently have in place that cover
this scope of work. Whether
the work is delivered in-house
or by a third-party contractor,
do you know who to call in an
emergency?
“This is critical under the new
timeframes because they are
now expected to investigate
potential emergency hazards
immediately and complete any
necessary safety work within 24
hours. There’s no time to waste
in identifying responsibility - any
delay could mean missing the
legal deadline to investigate and
resolve the issue.”
Landlords will also need to
carefully review the contracts
they have in place to make sure
they are 昀椀t for purpose under the
new regulations.
“These contracts will have
service levels and 昀椀xed response
times already in place, but do
they align to the new timescales
that you need to comply with?”
said Oliver.
“If you have a contract that
states a 5-day timeframe for a
damp and mould complaint, that
won’t help you get an emergency
repair 昀椀xed within 24 hours. It will
likely come with an added cost
implication. There are short term
measures landlords can take over
the next few months to mitigate
this, but they need long-term
solutions.”
Taking the longer-term view
Oliver Mooney, Head of Category at Fusion21
It would be understandable, given
the new time pressures, for social
landlords to focus on quick 昀椀xes
to ensure compliance, but taking
a longer-term view of managing
hazards will be better for both
landlords and their tenants.
Another reason that long term
thinking is so important is that
the Hazards in Social Housing
Regulations will be evolving and
expanding in 2026 and 2027,
so organisations need to not
only address the new changes
but also have contracts that are
昀氀exible enough to adapt as the
requirements shift.
“There are rules under public
procurement legislation about
how much contracts can be
modi昀椀ed and how this increases
the value of the works,” said
Oliver. “This risks the contract
becoming non-compliant, so it
may be the case that you need to
procure a new contract promptly,
while ensuring consistency
of supply with your existing
arrangements.”
experienced and accredited
suppliers who can deliver the
required works while ensuring
compliance with the regulations.
We can help enable strategic
procurement to establish
contracts that will evolve and
go beyond meeting regulatory
requirements, enabling genuine
value and social impact.
Working with proven suppliers
through our frameworks will
help social landlords to deliver
long-term programmes, not just
reactive repairs. Sticking plaster
solutions, like cleaning and
painting the walls in the case of
damp and mould, will only be
temporary 昀椀xes, and the problem
will return and will need 昀椀xing
again.
Taking a longer view means
having the right people in
place with the right experience,
addressing the immediate need
within the correct timeframe and
then investigating and resolving
the issue properly.
The right supply chain for
the job
How to 昀椀nd the right
suppliers
At Fusion21, our frameworks
offer a fast route to 昀椀nding
Our frameworks offer access to
a trusted pool of suppliers - all
pre-quali昀椀ed, experienced and
able to deliver within the required
timescales, engage effectively
with tenants, and offer new and
innovative solutions.
We can assist local authorities
and landlords to assess what
kind of delivery model they need
to meet the new regulations
and future-proof their processes
for the changes we know are
coming. This could mean using
Fusion21’s head of昀椀ce in Knowsley, Merseyside
one supplier or multiple suppliers
to provide different elements of
repairs.
We’ll also manage early
engagement with suppliers to
昀椀nd out what they are able to
offer, ensuring that you can
achieve value for money with
their price structure, as well as
getting cost certainty for the
future.
Our Building Improvements
Framework covers the
investigation, diagnosis, and
remediation of damp and mould,
while the Heating, Renewables
and Electrical Framework offers
electrical testing. Other housing
compliance issues are covered
under our Building, Safety and
Compliance Framework.
Working across housing, local
authority, education, NHS, and
blue light sectors, we have to
date saved our members
£424 million through the
procurement process, created
over 16,600 employment
outcomes, and generated more
than £300 million in social impact.
We’re committed to procuring
with purpose, providing our
members with procurement
solutions that save resources and
meet safety requirements, while
delivering visible social value.
For information on all our
frameworks visit fusion21.co.uk/
solutions/awaabslaw or call
0845 308 2321.
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL AUTUMN 2025
25
