Greenwich (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Greenwich Council launches a major stock condition survey to assess all its housing and ensure safe, secure homes for residents.
Planning the correct upgrades to the right homes at the right time will be made easier with the survey of the borough’s 26,000 council dwellings over the next five years.
This is a component of our extensive £430 million housing plan, Housing Our Greenwich, which aims to upgrade the borough’s council homes.
Cllr Pat Slattery, Cabinet Member for Housing Management, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness, said:
“The data we collect from this survey will help us gather a fuller picture of the condition of our homes in the borough and the type of work we may need to do in homes that need it the most. This is important as it will help us prioritise any future investment and ultimately help to ensure our council homes can be safe, secure and meet modern standards.
As we move around different areas of the borough, council residents can really help by responding to the letters – when contacted by our consultants – so they can carry out this really important work on our behalf. All surveyors will carry an identification card with them and the survey will take no more than half an hour.”
Accurate, current, and informative data about our housing stock will be provided by the gathered information to support the seven overarching priorities in the Housing Asset Management Strategy 2025-2030, which was approved by Cabinet in June. They are:
ensuring a thorough awareness of our stock’s state, increasing every home’s energy efficiency, and decarbonizing.
- keeping all properties up to the Decent Homes Standard.
- Dealing with mold and moisture
- constructing compliance and safety.
- Innovation and data management.
- Cost control via efficient project planning.
In addition to the outward state of properties occupied by leaseholders, the study will examine the inside and external qualities of council homes used by renters, including everything from kitchens, windows, and roofs to insulation and heating systems.
The work will be completed by some internal council employees as well as consultants Martin Arnold, Potter Raper, and FFT, who were appointed by the council.
When the time comes for their home to be included in the survey, residents will get a letter requesting an appointment.
How will the survey results influence future housing maintenance plans?
Identify which components and properties require urgent maintenance or upgrades, enabling the council to allocate resources effectively and plan long-term investment programs.
Move away from reactive repairs toward more strategic, planned maintenance cycles, which improve efficiency and reduce costly emergency work.
Highlight areas where homes need improvements to meet safety standards, such as fire safety, ventilation, and damp prevention, ensuring tenant safety and regulatory compliance.
Assess energy performance and insulation needs, enabling targeted refurbishments that improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and lower tenants’ energy costs in line with environmental targets.