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Summary
In a delegated officer key decision, Paul Kitson, Corporate Director of Inclusive Economy, Housing & Culture, approved the award of a contract to John Rowan and Partners (JRP) to conduct stock condition surveys on the council's social housing properties. This decision, made on 18 June 2025, continues a previously agreed three-year programme and aligns with commitments to the Regulator of Social Housing. The decision is subject to call-in, with the call-in period ending on 25 June 2025, and can be implemented from 26 June 2025.
Stock Condition Survey Programme
Paul Kitson, Corporate Director of Inclusive Economy, Housing & Culture, approved the engagement of John Rowan and Partners (JRP) to carry out stock condition surveys at a cost of £897,028.00. This decision was made under the Newham Council Scheme of Delegation, Part 3B, which grants officers the authority to approve new expenditure and make procurement decisions.
The stock condition survey (SCS) programme aims to provide the London Borough of Newham with a comprehensive understanding of its social housing assets. The council manages a diverse range of residential units, from high-rise blocks to single-family homes, and requires accurate asset information to meet its obligations as a landlord. The programme supports the council's commitment to completing a three-year cycle of condition surveys, with this commission adding approximately 7,700 surveys to the total.
The surveys will gather data on various aspects of the properties, including:
- Decency status, to identify properties not meeting the Decent Homes Standard1
- Potential Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) issues
- Asset lifespans and repair timescales
- Information to help bring properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G up to a minimum of C, in line with government targets for 2030.
The information gathered will inform the development of 5-year and 30-year investment plans.
The council considered and rejected the option of undertaking the works in-house, citing a lack of specialist resources within its repair and maintenance service (RMS). It also rejected accessing a compliant framework to appoint a single supplier via mini-competition, due to time constraints and existing savings identified in the Long Term Qualifying Agreement (LTQA).
All residents will be informed about the surveys via letter, including details of the surveyors and the nature of the survey, and requesting access to their homes. Leaseholders will be informed of the likely costs of the services, estimated to be a maximum of £150, even though further statutory consultation is not strictly required because consultation was undertaken on the LTQA prior to entry into the agreement, as per section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 19852.
The financial implications of the decision include the engagement of John Rowan and Partners (JRP) for a fixed sum of £897,028.00. The budget for the survey is included in the Major Works project budget within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme Budget. The costs will be funded from a combination of HRA Reserves, leaseholder contributions, and new HRA borrowing. Borrowing the money will add an estimated £72,000 per annum to the council's future revenue budget, including provision to repay the borrowing.
The legal implications of the decision are that John Rowan & Partners were appointed under a Qualifying Long Term Agreement (QLTA), approved in May 2015. The QLTA allows the council to engage JRP without the need for competitive tendering. The use of the QLTA is compliant with procurement legislation and the council's Contract Standing Orders, and officers have been advised to ensure that the appointment of JRP represents value for money.
The project supports Priority 5 of the Council's Corporate Plan 2022-2026, Building a Fairer Newham
3, which focuses on providing homes for residents, improving the quality of existing council homes and estates, and increasing resident satisfaction.
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The Decent Homes Standard is a technical standard for social housing in England. ↩
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Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 outlines the consultation requirements for landlords when carrying out qualifying works on properties where the costs will be passed on to leaseholders. ↩
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Building a Fairer Newham is Newham Council's corporate plan. ↩
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