Accelerating the Safe Re-Occupation of Vacant Homes

Client: L&Q Group
Sector: Housing 
Services: Strategic Health and Safety Review 
Location: London 

The Client 

Established over 50 years ago, the L&Q Group has grown to become one of the UK's leading housing associations. It provides affordable, high-quality homes for around 250,000 people in communities across London, the Southeast and the Northwest of England. Believing that everyone deserves a quality home, the L&Q Group provides new homes through outright sales, shared ownership and the Help to Buy scheme. The organisation is currently building a new development of 476 new homes in Greenwich, 70% of which will be affordable. 

The Challenge 

As part of its acquisition of Telford Housing in Manchester, L&Q Group's void management and compliance teams identified an opportunity to reduce the time taken to re-occupy vacant properties. As well as helping to alleviate the housing crisis, significant cost savings could also be achieved through the improved control of contractors. Having committed to high quality standards for the void refurbishment programme, L&Q wanted to understand how best to manage health and safety compliance considerations. This included the 'big six' issues of gas, fire, electrical and lift safety, water hygiene and asbestos management. 

iON’s Solution 

We were appointed to undertake a strategic route and branch review of L&Q's void management process, with a particular focus on the six key compliance issues. We began by reviewing all policies, procedures, systems, associated data, and commitments to tenant and contractor agreements. We conducted interviews with various internal stakeholders to gather information on all aspects of the void management process to assess compliance. We presented a final report of findings and recommendations to the senior management team. This identified significant improvements to processes and timelines that would ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety legislation. 

"L&Q Group's void management process was in need of improvement, and we required an experienced SHEQ consultancy with compliance and housing experience to help us identify the key issues and develop a plan for change. iON Consultants met this brief and delivered their findings and recommendations in a timely manner.” 

Rob Nower, Director of Building Compliance and Property Services 

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