Response to the Social Housing White Paper
Response to the Social Housing White Paper
We welcome the Government’s Social Housing White Paper and recognise its importance in shaping the way we as contractors can work alongside our social housing partners to improve the safety of residents’ homes.
“We’re pleased to see the focus on health, safety and quality threaded throughout and clear that the foundation created by Building a Safer Future is being given the attention it deserves. At the same time, it is extremely concerning that 200,000 social households are without working smoke alarms and over 2.3million homes are without carbon monoxide monitors. Statistics like this remind us that there is much work to do.
“The message from the Prime Minster sets the tone of what is expected from the sector. We must learn from what has come before us and challenge ourselves to make a difference to residents’ lives as we continue to improve the ways we communicate with them and provide housing that is safe for years to come.
“As well as the necessary focus on health, safety and quality, the paper also stresses the importance of listening and engagement. By listening to the feedback and experiences of the residents living in the homes we maintain, we can act quickly to not only adapt how we work but also help foster a collaborative relationship between landlord, resident and contractor in any future maintenance programmes.
“As a contractor at the forefront of social housing repairs and maintenance, we have a responsibility to understand, listen to, and deliver to the exacting standards of the sector. In doing so, we can ensure that we deliver repairs and maintenance to the highest standards but also be mindful that tenant satisfaction is at the forefront of our minds. This approach requires us to have open dialogue with residents, acknowledge when works don’t go to plan but commit to clear communication with them throughout the process and deal with any complaints in a respectful and efficient way.
“We look forward to working with our current and future partners in meeting the expectations of the Charter for Social Housing Residents and alongside them, we remain committed to work smarter and harder to ensure that as a sector, we continue to build a stronger and safer future for residents in their homes and communities.”
Steve Jackson
Strategy Director, Wates Property Services
