Thirteen Group’s Post

'Game-changer' is an oft-used, over-hyped expression in #socialhousing, but this really could be one that will help deliver the Government's latest Decent Homes agenda. Data enabled smart/connected homes are critical for landlords' future retrofit and sustainability programmes and could potentially have huge positive impact for residents. Across the whole sector it could make a difference of literally billions of pounds over the next 30 years... Good luck folks! Matthew Gardiner Dan Goodall Paul Taylor Ian Wright Kate Still FCIH FRSA Steve Dungworth Kate Davies CBE FRICS Neil Topping Lara Oyedele ✊🏽 🍉 Aileen Evans Elly Hoult David Lewis Andy Belton Debra Yudolph Andrew van Doorn OBE Matthew Grenier Stewart Davison MSc Elaine Middleton Hannah Absalom Gaby Wolferink, PhD Benjamin Fruhman Rowley Maggs #smarthomes 👍

Coming soon... the largest project ever undertaken in the UK social housing sector to understand the current state of connected/smart homes... In this hyper-connected world, housing organisations are realising they need to move away from current reactive asset practices, and towards getting their homes talking to them and their customers. They want to do this to better protect tenants' wellbeing, meet new regulatory and compliance requirements and deliver more efficient homes homes that help people thrive. However, the pace of development of connected homes has been painfully slow in this sector, with a lack of understanding about the opportunity many barriers to fully realise the potential at scale. The Disruptive Innovators Network (DIN) and Bromford housing, in conjunction with a wide range of sector partners, are soon going to survey the social housing sector at scale. For the first time we want to paint a picture of where landlords are at with their connected homes, how far they have to go on their journey, how they are using this new property data, what are the skills they are using to do this and how big is the gap they have to close, and much more. With a go live date of early 2025, anyone interested in being part of this groundbreaking research should contact the DIN project director Matthew Gardiner, or me - Dan Goodall, CTO of Bromford housing for an initial chat about the scope. As well as getting in touch could leaders within housing organisation please repost this to their networks as well. We'd love to have organisation onboard who really care about solving the barriers towards creating truly connected homes at scale. Bye for now, Dan.

Nieuw paper gepubliceerd! Een kwalitatief onderzoek over gezondheidseffecten van sociaal renoveren New paper published! 'Health effects of holistic housing renovation in a disadvantaged neighbourhood in the Netherlands: a qualitative exploration among residents and professionals' In this study, we found that renovation stress negatively affects mental health and sense of control. Potential stress relievers are practical help with packing and moving furniture, and increased predictability by good and targeted communication. Social interventions can best be offered after renovation, when residents live in their renovated apartment and the nuisance and stress from the renovation is behind them. Social partners can use the period leading up to the renovation to show their faces, offer practical help to reduce renovation stress, and increase residents’ trust in their organization and authorities in general. This might also contribute to residents’ willingness to accept help with problems in the social domain after renovation. Find the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eYJX7aSt Carlijn Kamphuis, Yvonne Vendrig - de Punder, Frank van Lenthe, Floor Borlee, Marielle Jambroes

A Tea and a Chat: Housing Edition I often hear people say it’s getting harder to find the right professionals to lead challenging housing portfolios. To explore this further, I am starting a new series where I chat with brilliant people about topics that matter to those building their careers in the housing sector. First up is a discussion I had with Brian Horton, Director of HORTON STRATEGIC LIMITED, an independent consultancy that advises government, public, private, and third-sector organisations on housing, development, regeneration, and economic growth. Brian’s career is seriously impressive. He’s worked with organisations like the South East Housing and Development Group, the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, and Gravesham Borough Council. He’s also on the boards of Gravesend Churches Housing Association, The Sureserve Foundation, and Keystage Housing. Previously, Brian was Chief Executive at Swale Housing, managing 7,300 affordable homes, and Executive Director at AmicusHorizon, overseeing 28,000 homes across London and the South East. And honestly, I could go on. Brian and I agree—it’s an exciting (and challenging) time for local government and the housing sector with devolution, changes to the NPPF, and upcoming funding for Temporary Accommodation (TA). So, what does this mean for today’s housing professionals? What do they need to thrive? Transferable Skills: Don’t just focus on your current industry—get to know the one you’re aiming for, whether it’s local government, housing associations, or beyond. Political Astuteness: Understand what drives council politics. Balancing political priorities with the needs of residents and stakeholders is key. Interpersonal Relationships: Your ability to get people on board will make or break your success. Communication, collaboration, and influencing skills are vital for building trust and securing support. Process and Governance Knowledge: Learn how public sector processes and governance work. It’s equally important to manage expectations—whether it’s from politicians, residents, contractors, or colleagues. Today’s decisions often shape the future. Energy and Resilience: The housing sector is demanding. Bring enthusiasm and keep the momentum going, even when the going gets tough. Management vs Leadership: Managers keep the day-to-day running smoothly, while leaders inspire teams and drive change. Success needs a bit of both—operational grip and strategic vision. Hard Work: There’s no shortcut—housing demands real commitment. Whether it’s hitting targets, addressing resident concerns, or managing large investments, you’ve got to put in the effort. But above all, we need people with genuine passion. After all, everyone deserves a place to call home. Thank you, Brian, for your time and insights—it’s been a brilliant way to kick off this series! Dawar Hashmi Peter John Andrew Tromans Penna Exec-Search #HousingLeadership #CareerInHousing

Mould in social housing is a growing concern, affecting 99.2% of landlords. The issue impacts tenant health and safety, urging stronger measures from housing providers. Addressing this problem involves improved maintenance, better ventilation, and faster response times to prevent mould growth. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3VAobaN #mould #socialhousing

Hello, LinkedIn family! Today, I want to share something close to my heart and central to our mission at Advanced Damp LTD. As we navigate through our journey, we've seen firsthand the impact of damp on homes, particularly in the social housing sector. It's more than just a job for us; it's about ensuring every family has a safe and healthy place to call home. With over 30 years under our belt, we've tailored our damp proofing services not just for efficiency and durability, but with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by social housing. Here’s why we believe we can make a difference: Our Experience: Decades of tackling damp have taught us there's always a solution. Our Commitment: We use top-notch materials because we believe everyone deserves the best, regardless of budget. Our Understanding: We know cost matters, especially for social housing projects. We’re here to work with you, not against your budget. Our Vision: It’s about more than just buildings; it’s about fostering healthier communities and improving lives. We're here to change the narrative around social housing, one damp-proofed home at a time. If you manage social housing and struggle with damp issues, let's chat. Together, we can create spaces that aren't just shelters but true homes—warm, dry, and welcoming. https://lnkd.in/g6Sj3naC

Excited to share our latest work, which explores a practical approach to reducing social housing waitlists by introducing a mutual exchange system. By allowing tenants to exchange homes that better suit their current needs, we can create a more dynamic, adaptable housing system that benefits everyone. This approach has the potential to improve tenant satisfaction, optimise housing resources, and alleviate the long wait times many face in securing appropriate social housing. Check out the full article to learn more about how a tenant mutual exchange system could be a game-changer for housing policy! #SocialHousing #HousingPolicy #Innovation #SustainableCommunities #UrbanDevelopment

Sharing 'Bundi - A housing tool for mob'. These are 5 free housing information pamphlets designed with Aboriginal tenants, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social housing tenants in South-East Sydney. 🏡 The pamphlets outline: 🛠️ Repairs processes, 📣 Escalation processes - complaints, appeals , Tribunal or NCAT and for Homes NSW, complaints to the NSW Ombudsman - for Homes NSW, Bridge Housing, St George Community Housing and Community Housing Limited, and ☎️ Eight tenant advocacy and social service organisations that support tenants in the South East Sydney area - their location, contact information, and an indication of the specific service they provide and whether the service employs Aboriginal workers clients/tenants can speak to. The pamphlets were developed with Dharawal and Bidjigal people, Aboriginal tenants living in public and community housing in South-East Sydney, Aboriginal Health Workers, local Aboriginal community organisations, tenant advocates, social services and social housing providers. They are the tangible element of my PhD, based on yarns and interviews with 62 people. On the one hand they are a tiny drop in the ocean as they cannot make more housing magically materialise, but on the other hand they fill a notable gap in accessible tenant resources based on the voices of Aboriginal tenants and the frontline workers who support them. Feel free to share around. 📫 Tenants' Union of NSW Homes NSW Aboriginal Housing Office https://lnkd.in/eshDHdbg

I’ve long been an advocate for #coliving as a viable housing solution for single individuals. However, I find it frustrating that many current models focus on high-end service delivery, resulting in higher rents that are out of reach for the majority of single people earning average or below-average incomes. To truly make an impact, we need to shift the focus towards offering high-quality accommodation at affordable rates. This can be achieved by streamlining the model—reducing costly non-essential communal areas and services. Most people would prefer to pay less and expect less, while still enjoying the benefits of a co-living community.

The Housing Ombudsman has expressed deep concerns about the handling of window-related complaints in the social housing sector in England. Its investigations show that landlords have not always responded in a timely way, and sometimes important repairs have been deferred. The Ombudsman’s casework has revealed 3 main issues: 🔹 Landlords failing to consider individual household circumstances during risk assessments, leading to overlooked health and safety concerns 🔹 Delays in conducting repairs, often postponed due to cost considerations and planned cyclical works 🔹 Inadequate communication with residents regarding the operation and safety of newly installed windows To address these issues, the Ombudsman plans to publish decisions on window-related complaints shortly, which will support landlord learning and improve future responses. Engagement with regulatory bodies is also underway to share more information on these matters. Social housing providers should review their own window-related complaints proactively and look towards implementing the following core themes: 🔹 Conduct thorough risk assessments based on individual household circumstances, ensuring appropriate actions are recognised, responded to, and documented 🔹 Engage independent surveyors (where necessary) and ensure that responses to their recommendations are reasonable, clear, and consistent 🔹 Justify decisions to defer repairs or opt for limited repairs not primarily on cost, but in line with legal obligations 🔹 Provide clear, comprehensive, and accessible information to residents regarding the operation of new windows Throughout these core themes strong knowledge and information management is essential. Whilst we recognise this is primarily aimed at social housing providers in England, we hope our colleagues in other areas of the UK may find the information helpful. You can read the full news article here: https://lnkd.in/e2psRiWB