2025

HBM0620 - Asbestos Payments – 150925

This local authority is seeking further information as to what other local authorties do in regard to working with Abestos through the following question:

- What payment or allowance do you pay staff who work with non-licensed asbestos or alternatively is this work outsourced?

HBM0619 - Percentage of Repairs Logged as Emergencies – 290725

This Local Authority is currently recording a very high number of repairs as emergencies. They are seeking information from other Local Authorities in relation to the percentage of repairs that they have logged as an emergency (both daytime and out of hours). Any information Local Authorities are able to provide on these statistics from the last financial year (24/25) would be greatly appreciated.

​​​​​​​HBM0618 - Process for managing vacant homes/ voids – 210725

A member authority is currently evaluating their process for managing vacant homes/ void properties and would like to learn about the approaches, challenges, and best practices from other organisations.

Specifically, they would like to know the following:-

• If work is split between in-house teams and contractors, how is this decision made and managed?
• Are your survey specifications generated electronically? If so, what device or system do you use?
• Are vacant homes or void works scheduled using a diary management system? If so, which system do you use?
• What challenges do you currently face in delivering on time and within budget?
• What aspects of your process do you feel work well for your organisation?

If possible, could you please share an overview of your process for managing vacant homes or voids?

HBM0617 - Charging management fees to co-owners for repairs – 120625

A member authority is seeking information regarding management fees for arranging repairs to common areas.

Specifically, the member authority would like to know the following:-

1. Do you charge management fees to co-owners of mixed tenure blocks for arranging repairs to common areas?
2. If yes how is the fee calculated (e.g. flat rate, percentage of repair cost?)
3. If you charge a management fee, are you registered as a Factor?

HBM0616 - Grants for retrofitting vacant / empty properties – 050625

A member authority is seeking information regarding grants for retrofitting vacant / empty properties.

Does your authority drawn down funding / grants for improving o retrofitting properties to make them more energy efficient either when they are vacant or as parts of the voids process?

HBM615 - Out of Hours Repairs Service – 5280

This local authority is seeking information on good practice considerations relative to repairs service delivery. To gather insight, they would welcome feedback in regard to the following:

1. How is out of hours 'on call' timeframe applicable across the week?

2. Out of hours timescales and categories of work undertaken.

3. If this service is delivered in-house or out-sourced and the budget applicable?

4. The structure for handling and coordinating out of hours calls received?

The local authority also requests If you would be willing to share any standby and response repairs policy/procedures.

HBM614 - Credit Cards – 020425

A member authority is seeking information regarding credit cards. Specifically, they would like to know the following:-

Does your authority currently provide credit cards to its housing maintenance operatives for purchases in the field. If so:

• Roughly what percentage of the maintenance operatives have a credit card?
• How long from 1st starting as a maintenance operative is it until they receive a credit card?
• Are there any policies or restrictions in place to limit where they buy materials?
• Are there restrictions on how much can be spent in a given time frame?

Are there any check in place to monitor the spending of the operatives?

HBM613 - Transitioning to Paperless Electrical Certificates – 030425

This local authority is seeking to understand whether other authorities have transitioned to paperless electrical certificates. To gather insight, they would appreciate answers to the following questions:

1. Do you have Electricians in house or do you sub-contract?
2. Have you gone paperless with your electrical certificates?
3. If so, what supplier did you use to do this or did you do this internally?
4. Having gone paperless, have you encountered any issues/lessons learned that could be shared?

HBM612 - Rechargeable Repairs Policy – 030425

This local authority is currently reviewing our rechargeable repairs policy, and would like feedback from other Councils and social housing providers, about their approach to rechargeable repairs.

1. Do you currently charge your customers for repairs which fall outside of your Repairs and Maintenance policy?

2. Do you currently charge outgoing customers for repairs, when a customer moves from their home leaving behind damage, furniture/flooring/sheds/greenhouses?

3. Do you currently have a rechargeable repair policy?

4. Would you be able to share your rechargeable repair policy?

HBM611 - Salt barns with PVC covering membrane roofs - 280225

A local authority would be interested to know if any other member authorities have recently build or refurbished new salt barns with PVC covering membrane roofs? The would be keen to receive any recommendations regarding this type of work and information on any supplier/ contractor who have experience of this undertaking.

HBM610 - Proposed Housing Revenue Account Rent Rise 25/26

A member authority would be interested to know, for those authorities with Housing Stock, what is the Housing Revenue Account rent rise proposal for 25/26?

HBM0609 - Stock control processes for windows and doors - 160125

A local authority is looking to improve stock control with regards their windows and doors installation programme. They are particularly keen to identify ways to improve on the following:

1. How windows and doors are stored/tracked after delivery from contractor.
2. What actions are taken if the installation team cannot get access. Do other services support with rearranging installation? Does this have to happen within a set time period?
3. What do local authorities do with windows/doors (or other bespoke materials) if access is not granted.

HBM0608 - In-house asbestos teams

A member authority is seeking information from other authorities who have their own in-house asbestos teams. Specifically, they would like to know the following:-

How do you approach the use of vehicles, i.e. does the council provide them, do they get a car allowance, or do they ask the staff to use their own vehicles and then just claim mileage etc?