Places for People (PFP) is a social housing provider that manages more than 231,000 homes across the northwest and the northeast of England.
Project overview
In April 2023, Pennington Choices was appointed to provide 1,161 Damp and Mould Surveys across a selection of PFP’s housing stock. We appointed five experienced damp and mould surveyors to carry out the works.
Our approach
Prior to project initiation, our team held a mobilisation meeting to discuss and confirm the contract requirements and scope. This process allowed us to:
- Agree on key milestones and turnaround times
- Develop a communication strategy for both residents and PFP
- Obtain a list of vulnerable residents
- Agree to host regular progress meetings
In May 2023, we conducted a pilot exercise of 236 surveys. This allowed us to stress-test our agreed processes and procedures, as well as the effective use of the Safety Culture app as a means of collecting/validating data and writing reports. The pilot surveys also tested the effectiveness of our communication strategy and our ability to meet turnaround times and contractual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
To conduct the Damp and Mould Surveys, our surveyors input data directly into the SafetyCulture app via handheld devices whilst on-site. Once completed, the reports are written, validated, and shared with the client via SharePoint in PDF format. Each report includes details on the condition and location of any damp and mould identified, potential causes, and recommended remedial actions. We have adapted our survey report around PFP’s requests, using our ability to create bespoke templates based on individual requirements. To ensure a consistently high service delivery, our quality assurance manager validates 100% of all damp and mould reports before they are sent to the client. We ensure that the reports are easy to navigate and clearly set out the recommended remedial work, detailing both the works required and recommendations for contractors to carry it out.
We are currently supporting PFP in testing and piloting their new software, streamlining their processes to ensure compliance with the latest legislation, such as the upcoming implementation of short timeframes for addressing damp and mould complaints under Awaab’s Law.
To date, we have completed over 3,300 surveys, significantly exceeding the initial scope. We have expanded our resources nationwide (from Scotland to the south coast), enabling us to survey properties across the UK with a growing team of 25 surveyors.
Our achievement
Over the past year, PFP has placed greater reliance on Pennington Choices as their main damp and mould surveying consultant across the country, reflecting the positive relationship we have developed. Our team of experienced surveyors has ensured efficient project delivery, consistently meeting all agreed deadlines and turnaround times.
