Purpose

As a social landlord we need to improve our data retention and practical retrievability in order to address a range of issues including:
1.meeting the new regulatory regime following the Hackett review,
2.other matters following the Grenfell fire incident,
3.claims numbers,
4.the death of Awaab Ishak in Rochdale and
5.need to address climate change.
The new regulatory framework comes into force on 01 April 2024 and we need to be able to demonstrate a better understanding of the condition of our housing stock.
Regardless of these external factors, the Council has always been committed to providing good quality housing so it is important we have a robust grasp of the condition of our stock which requires an up to date survey to be undertaken.
The Council uses a database called Lifespan provided by Property Tectonics Limited. Property Tectonics also completed early phases of stock surveys amounting to almost 25% of the stock under a framework agreement. Following a competitive procurement process Micheal Dyson Associates were appointed to carry out surveys of the remaining stock in three phases. The last of these phases is currently under way.
In October 2025 a decision was published to engage Property Tectonics to transfer all of the data into Lifespans at a cost of £2,500. Since that decision the team has obtained a revised quotation from Property Tectonics to include survey data gained in relation to the third tranche of dwellings and for the blocks which, contrary to the earlier advice, were not included in the original quotation, in the sum of £4,000.

Decision

To issue instructions to Property Tectonics to transfer all of the stock condition survey data collected into Lifespans including the additional data as their revised quotation.

Alternative options considered

The implementation of the data process is aimed at focussing services in the short term and maintaining a sound position going into local government reorganisation.