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Click here to download the SOCIAL_HOUSING_CROSSWORD_PUZZLE.pdf

The future of social housing was prudently addressed, following a riveting conversation held by Theresa Mays former chief of staff Nick Timothy at one of our own board awaydays, back in January.

Many believe that social housing is nearing the bottom of the agenda when it comes to the implications of Brexit and is being heavily overlooked.

Arguable, the main issue that the social housing sector is going to face is the logistical changes to supply chains. With materials like timber being heavily imported from the EU, many merchants have already begun contingency planning to maintain their sustainability, and have adopted the approach of stockpiling materials; however, it’s a very temporary solution

The overcomplicating of importing materials is set to have some implications on the affordability of social homes, whether this is going to be for the good or bad of renters in the UK.

But the question is, does anyone know what they are doing? Planning for the unknown is an impossible feat in all walks of life, let alone when looking to mitigate the effects of Brexit on an entire industry.

The potential knock-on effects are endless with the immediate ones possibly the most damaging. Will we begin seeing more or less jobs in the construction industry? Half of construction workers in London come from the EU and many have already gone back to avoid being ‘stuck’.

The effects that deal or no deal Brexit could be endless from temporary purchasing alternative materials to a complete logistical change, steering away from current just in time solutions.

Going from a blanket agreement to, well, who knows what, is going to be a huge change regardless of the specifics and the social housing market is inevitably going to learn to adapt no matter what comes its way; Deal or No Deal is just the beginning of something bigger.

With every future deal coming from UK Parliament, surely our government will do what is best for UK citizens? It is no secret that the UK has been in a housing crisis for some time now with the publication of reports like the Shelter’s “vision for social housing”.

Although the UK is going Brexit crazy, there’s no need to panic. CHIC has been actively collaborating with its members / suppliers to gather intel on what is the best course of action to mitigate the amount of disruption to the supply chain. 95% of Manufacturers and Distributors have already plans in place to mitigate for a No deal vote with the large majority being determined as low risk. (Testimonial from a supplier)

CHIC has engaged with it’s supply chain to ensure that members have contingencies in place for every aspect of property maintenance requirements.

CHIC’s Merchant Services Manager (maybe change it to Supply chain manager) is of the opinion that: “The worst thing that we in the social housing industry can do right now, is to put our heads in the sand and hope that this storm will pass us by. The first thing that will be affected will be supply chains, as we see in other sectors such as the automotive industry. Arguably if housing associations engage with purchasing groups, in respect of their suppliers, trends will be noticeable which means that steps can be taken to mitigate negative effects.”

As rightly pointed out purchasing groups such as CHIC, are better positioned to notice trends in the market that individual housing associations cannot see, and this is purely down to the number of suppliers each engages. Having a pool of suppliers providing the same type of service, normally via a framework, will allow members that purchase through that group a better understanding of where the market is going.

In these trialling times, co-operation is key, and instead of we can do it better, we need to do it better together.

The question is then, what has your association done to ensure that services will not drop.

Quote from Bournville to come: - need to chase giles again today.

If you are worried about the Brexit impact on your organisation, please give us a call.

 

As the festive season approaches, the CHIC team would like to express our thanks for your support throughout the year. It’s been a pleasure working with you and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the year ahead.
  

Please note that our offices will be closed from 12.30pm on 24th December and will reopen on Friday 2nd January.
 We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

 

CHIC’s Board of Directors held its quarterly meeting on Thursday 11th December.
  The Board’s role is to represent all CHIC members in agreeing the Business Strategy, to ensure that this accords with member needs and expectations, and to monitor operational service delivery by CHIC’s Managing Agent, ARK Consultancy Limited. The Board recognises that good governance is essential in a not for profit, member owned consortium and its quarterly meetings and other events provide the opportunity to ensure that they deliver to this objective. KPIs and Contract Retentions
  KPIsThe Board reviewed the work that had now been completed on a standard approach to performance monitoring for all CHIC frameworks. This is necessary for all new frameworks let under PA 2023, but CHIC also committed to do this as part of its Gold Standard Accreditation for the Newbuild framework, launched in 2024. KPIs will be applied at 3 levels:- Level 1 – Framework Management (by CHIC) - Level 2 – Framework Contract Management (consistent KPIs for all Contracts awarded under a framework)- Level 3 – Contract KPIs (with flexibility to be determined for each individual Contract to aid effective project management). It was agreed that CHIC will promote these with members and supply chain partners but that additional resources will be required as the volume of contracts operating at Level 2 increases. The Board will consider the resource implications as part of the budget setting process for 2026/27. Details of CHIC’s now approved KPI structure can be found here. RetentionsThe Board noted and approved CHIC’s guidance note about contract retentions, to be considered for all future CHIC call off contracts. Further details can be found here. CCPIThe Board reviewed the outcome of discussions that CHIC had been having with the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI). The aim of CCPI is to raise standards in construction product information and marketing and to drive positive culture change in the manufacturing and supply sectors, in relation to the standard of construction products. The Board agreed that CHIC should pledge its support for CCPI, to demonstrate a commitment to improving sector behaviour in relation to the standard of product selection, ultimately to improve resident safety. Partnerships and SponsorshipThe Board agreed that CHIC should become a Main Partner with Healthy Homes Hub, to further our collaborative work in understanding and supporting the journey to net zero.It was also agreed to support a new Midlands focused ‘People in Housing Awards’ initiative, being launched early in 2026. Business Planning AwaydayThe Board next meets for its annual business planning awayday in February 2026. The agenda for the day was agreed, where the focus will be on priorities for the new 5 Year Business Strategy 2026-2031. CHIC Conference 2026CHIC’s main conference for 2026 will take place on 3rd June, in Telford. The Board reviewed and approved the programme for the day.
Details of the conference to either book an exhibition stand or to register as a delegate can be found here. Operational ReviewA range of performance reports were reviewed and discussed. The Board noted:- That the first half of the year had continued to be busy with a range of new enquiries and new members joining CHIC.- The team was now managing over 1,200 live contracts with a further 250 currently being progressed. - 17 new members had joined CHIC since the last meeting.- Over half of CHIC’s active members now use more than one service and have multiple contracts procured through CHIC.- Performance had been strong in the first two quarters (CHIC’s financial year runs July to June), with all budget expectations being achieved.- More investment was being made to continue to enhance the functionality of CHIC’s own main operational software – CSol (CHIC Solutions). Service Review – Materials and MerchantsThe Board reviews each of CHIC’s 8 Services on a rotational basis; this quarter they reviewed Materials and Merchants.The merchants market had been through quite significant change over the last couple of years and this had led to new requirements, in addition to CHIC’s existing framework.The Board noted the wider scope of a new Materials and Merchants framework, that had just been published to invite interest from manufacturers and merchants. Procurement PlanThe Board reviewed the rolling programme of future framework procurements that would ensure that CHIC continues to offer a full range of asset management and related services and options for its members.  Social ValueThe Social Value Manager had continued to secure data from CHIC’s supply chain about their contractual SV delivery against their commitments for 2024/25. The current position was: Social Value Activities as of November 2025:60% of contractors (99/165) had reported on their social value endeavours.79.5% of contracts (682/858) were included as part of this reporting.  The Board was encouraged to note the scale of outcomes now being secured under CHIC procured contracts but was keen to see all suppliers and contractors deliver on their contractual commitments.  CHIC donates funds to its aligned charity, CHIP, annually. The Board was pleased to see how this year’s funds are being utilised to support Local Employment Groups and Community Fund Projects. More details of CHIP can be found here. Next MeetingBoard members will meet again:- At the Business Strategy Awayday on 25th February.- At CHIC’s new Housing Horizons Conference for London and South East Members on 11th March – details can be found here.- For their next quarterly meeting on 25th March. More InformationIf you want more information about CHIC’s Board and its responsibilities and programme of work, please contact CHIC’s CEO via email jfisher@chicltd.co.uk  Welcome To Our New Starters

We are delighted to introduce two new colleagues who have recently joined CHIC. Pauline Lutaaya who brings her expertise to the Partnerships Team and Emma Baskeyfield who strengthens our Technical Team. Both bring extensive sector experience and a passion for delivering high quality service. Here’s a little more about each of them. 

 

Partnerships Team – Pauline Lutaaya “I’m Pauline and I’m thrilled to have recently joined CHIC as a Partnerships Manager, supporting our suppliers across the London and the South region. I bring a strong background in account management, stakeholder engagement, business development and sales, having partnered with a wide range of organisations, councils and clients to deliver excellent service and build lasting, trust based relationships. I’m passionate about collaboration, finding creative solutions and ensuring every partnership thrives.  Originally from Uganda and then France, I’m currently embracing the adventure of mastering London life, discovering new corners of the city, getting delightfully lost and appreciating every unexpected twist along the way.  I’m excited to be part of the CHIC Partnerships Team and look forward to strengthening our supplier network, developing high quality relationships and contributing to meaningful social value across our programmes."

Technical Team – Emma Baskeyfield  "I’m Emma and I have recently joined CHIC as a Technical Manager. I have worked within the social housing sector for 12 years, specialising in asset management, property compliance and decarbonisation, where I have built a strong skill set in stock condition, compliance and energy efficiency measures to support strategic targets. I’m excited to join the CHIC Strategic Services Team to bring a practical, solution driven approach to technical management, focusing on improving housing quality, sustainability and long term value."

 

 

 

We were delighted to welcome our members, partners and other exhibitors to the CHIC Community at this year’s HOMES UK event. We had some fantastic supply chain partners showcasing their services and products, all available through CHIC’s DPS and Framework solutions. Thank you to everyone who joined us. If you are interested in booking an exhibition space with us next year at a bigger and better pavilion, please contact marketing@chicltd.co.uk   

 

This Month’s Housing Updates

Social Housing Access Tightens for Lowest Income Households
A new report by Crisis reveals that many housing associations in England are refusing social housing applications from the lowest income households, often citing affordability checks. Around a third of associations withdraw offers based on income thresholds, leaving some households trapped between being unable to access social housing and unaffordable private rents. The report urges government action to accelerate delivery of genuinely affordable homes.
Read more: The Guardian

Affordable Homes Delivery Remains Under Pressure
Ministry of Housing data for 2024–25 shows a 6% fall in net additional dwellings in England, with only 208,600 net dwellings completed. While the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) accounts for the largest share of new starts, social rent and intermediate rent schemes are declining sharply, highlighting ongoing challenges in meeting demand for affordable housing.
Read more: Gov.uk

Welsh member bodies welcome £14m top up for government retrofit scheme
The Welsh government has added £14.1m to its Optimised Retrofit Programme, taking this year’s total to £107.1m to help social landlords install heat pumps, solar panels and other upgrades. Since 2020, the scheme has supported 31,000 retrofit projects, aimed at meeting the new Welsh Housing Quality Standard, which targets EPC Band A in the long term. Landlords and CIH Cymru welcome the boost but warn of a major funding gap, with £5.5bn needed to decarbonise Welsh social housing and costs rising with inflation. Read more: Inside Housing

Northern Ireland launches first review of Decent Home Standard in two decades
Northern Ireland has launched its first review of the Decent Homes Standard in 20 years, aiming to modernise rules for 124,300 social homes. The consultation proposes a new fifth pillar covering safety, security, sustainability and well-being. Mandatory changes include accessibility upgrades, noise insulation, safer flooring and window fall-protection. The overhaul seeks to raise standards to match England and Wales, with consultation open 26 Nov 2025–4 Mar 2026. Inside Housing 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHIC Merchants Framework – Open for Tenders
The tender period is now live for the re-procurement of the Merchants & Materials Framework in partnership with Efficiency North. More information can be found here 

Live Procurements

Decoration
This framework is now live and has been Awarded to 26 suppliers. More information can be found here

Lifting Equipment & Mobility Aids
This framework is also now live and has been Awarded to 11 suppliers. More information can be found here

Frameworks in the Procurement Planning Stage

Initial planning is underway for the following frameworks which will, once procured, replace existing popular CHIC frameworks:
• Consultancy Services
• Building Compliance - including lots and sublots for Audit, Water Hygiene, Asbestos and Abatement Services and General Risk Advisory Services• Roofing

In parallel, CHIC is actively developing a comprehensive strategy for the implementation of the CHIC Dynamic Marketplace, aimed at increasing procurement agility and supplier access. In line with the Procurement Act 2023, CHIC’s Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) must be progressively replaced by Dynamic Markets.

CHIC manages the largest DPS in the sector and the strategy will focus first on the most popular works and services.

For more details on CHIC’s procurement programme, please contact Sam Domican, Director of Procurement, at tenders@chicltd.co.uk.

 

 Girls living in deprived areas commonly lack support from schools and other youth services. They tend to experience anxiety, low moods and isolation. These circumstances open the door for them to become more susceptible to manipulation both in person and online. This is where community groups like Open House have come in. Since 2020 they have provided youth clubs, workshops, therapy and mentoring to create a safer environment for young people, helping them use their time in ways that impact them positively.  They have helped empower many girls aged 10–16 through weekly sessions that offer comprehensive support. Participants have access to a psychotherapist and a behaviour mentor to strengthen their mental health and wellbeing, all while socialising in a safe and welcoming environment. With guidance from a range of positive adult role models, the girls develop important life skills such as cooking and crafts, take part in social action projects and build positive, supportive relationships. The three estates in Birmingham that the project focused on were categorised in the top 10% of deprived areas in the UK. Introducing girls trips, leisure activities and renovation projects, particularly throughout school holidays, has proven to be one of the best ways to keep young women focussed and making positive choices. Funding is required for charities like these to survive, as they benefit not only the participants but also the wider community, bridging the divide between the older and younger generations. For girls approaching the end of school, it’s common to feel unsure about what comes next. Many don’t receive enough guidance about the opportunities available to them, which can sometimes lead to unhelpful choices. These sessions not only build confidence but also show the girls that anything is possible when they believe in themselves. With positive role models by their side, they gain a clearer understanding of life and the range of opportunities open to them. With £9,820 of support from CHIP’s Community Chest Fund, they were able to deliver sessions and provide meaningful support to young people. Sometimes, it only takes one person to make a lasting difference in a young woman’s life, offering guidance that helps her make the best choices, rather than having to recover from difficult ones later on. Visit www.chipcharity.org.uk/community-chest-fund/ to learn how your organisation can apply for funding and continue making a positive impact in people’s lives. Testimonials "I love the girls group because of how lovely the staff are and because of how fun it is here! We do fun activities (like cooking, baking, gardening and other things) It's super fun here and always brightens my day. It's also a great opportunity to come off our devices and have some fun" "I really love this club, they look after us, give us confidence and they accept anyone for who they are and they help us and it's truly amazing. They look after anyone and they bring you to a massive smile even though you had a bad day". 

   

Beyond simple transactions – why relationships are important in housing

Chris Brockwell, Head of Member Services (South) Housing is a complex sector. It operates within an ever changing regulatory environment, has a wide and diverse range of stakeholders and needs to deliver safe, affordable and healthy homes in a changing world. Governments have numerous changing policies as part of their agendas and manifestos, so the sector is often subject to change when government’s change. Building relationships based on trust and a deep understanding of the sector are important to deliver against these persistent challenges. Homes are long lived assets. They provide for current and future generations; they are expected to last decades. This must shape the thinking of people working within and supporting the sector. Given these timescales, optimal solutions should not just be about simple transactions based solely on price; rather, it is about contributing to an activity that has a long lasting and profound effect on so many. Why? Well homes are central to health, well-being and the stability of our communities. As a regulated sector, landlords are required to demonstrate long term planning to allow them to be compliant operators and an attractive investment, with lenders looking for long term plans. They want to understand that their investments are viable and that their capital will be repaid. Long term planning should deliver optimal procurement solutions and value for money. Homes need to be designed and need to adapt to the changing climate we are living with. Addressing the question of decarbonisation needs a long-term view. The solutions employed to adapt or mitigate homes are still emerging. Cost effective asset management requires a long term vision, and it needs people to buy collectively into that vision – both from within the organisation responsible for delivery, and those who support the organisation from the outside. Within housing we want to avoid the same challenges coming back time and time again. We want to move from a cycle of short term fixes to long term solutions that benefit landlord and resident alike. Therefore, the supply chain that supports housing and the professional services that advises them needs to understand the long term nature of the sector and structure themselves and their propositions accordingly. Partnership working requires a real emphasis on relationships. It goes beyond the price of a single transaction into how the support provided can help deliver the long term vision.  An aspect of good relationship management is understanding the dynamics of geographical markets. The challenges that we face in the South will be different to those of the North and in Wales and Scotland. It is why local knowledge and local delivery is important. It can connect like minded organisations that can benefit from location, overcome geographical challenges and create economies of scale to deliver bigger impact. Why good housing is important Good housing should contribute to healthier living. If our homes are healthier in design, construction and operation, it will have a positive effect on the health of the residents, which in turn can reduce demand on NHS services. A good standard of housing helps to build stronger communities, allowing people to live within safer and more connected neighbourhoods. This place based approach leads into how we build and create the more sustainable homes we need, ones that operate with lower emissions improving the air quality and lived experience of these communities. Housing provides economic opportunity. The government has a well publicised ambition to build 1.5 million homes over the lifetime of this current parliament (2029). This needs labour, skills and investment. The more houses we build and the more we retrofit then the more jobs are created and the bigger the contribution housing can make to economic growth.

 

Here at CHIC, we are a membership organisation. We exist to help our members plan investment wisely and to deliver good value procurement. The expertise within CHIC and our members allows us to address the challenges that housing faces together. This long term vision of good quality homes is something that binds us. Therefore, to us it makes sense to build strategic relationships that are rooted in true partnership working. Strategic procurement is about making purchasing decisions that support the long term health and objectives of an organisation, deliver value for money, and generate positive outcomes for residents and communities.
Long term contracts help to drive consistency, quality and innovation across services as well as to enable investment in skills and jobs. The challenges across housing are not going to change quickly. The need to deliver consistently for residents and communities’ remains. Working in partnership, with shared outcomes, helps to lighten that load.  

 

 

 

Training & Support from EnviroVent

Supporting Competency

Regulatory pressures with tightened building regulations, The Homes Act & Awaab’s Law mean social landlords require a ventilation strategy and teams skilled and ready to go. Meeting these requirements means developing the skills needed to deliver high quality installations. At EnviroVent, we are helping contractors from across the UK to meet this demand through our NICEIC-approved Domestic Ventilation Training & Assessment Course, delivered at our factory in Harrogate.

This 2-day course provides practical and theoretical training in system installation, commissioning and compliance. It’s the recognised route to joining a Competent Person Scheme.

We also offer a free-of-charge CPD-accredited Condensation and Mould workshop. This 60-minute workshops provides our customers with an in-depth explanation of how condensation and mould occur and looks at long term solutions.

We can also support with a free-of-charge CPD-accredited Domestic Ventilation Best Practice workshop. This 60-minute course provides the employee from our customers with an overview of specifying and installing domestic ventilation systems. The candidates will be offered the chance to commission the EnviroVent Infinity fan to building regulations.

Ventilation Solutions

Training is just one part of the picture – the products themselves must be effective and suitable for social housing. At EnviroVent, our solutions are designed with landlords and residents in mind.

EnviroVent Infinity 8

With our Infinity fan suitable for kitchens, bathrooms and WCs we have developed a low maintenance, energy efficient product backed by an industry leading 8-year warranty. With built-in data logging and variable speed control, it provides intelligent ventilation with minimal disruption to residents.

Positive Input Ventilation (PIV)

With the need for proactive solutions to condensation & mould, PIV is ideal – especially in properties where major refurbishment isn’t viable. Suitable for houses or apartments PIV systems introduce filtered, fresh air throughout the home, diluting pollutants and displacing moisture-laden air. This reduces condensation and prevents mould from gaining a foothold.

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR)

For new build and on occasions retrofit projects MVHR is a great ventilation solution to improve indoor air quality, recover potential lost heat and support with a whole house ventilation system. This system choice can recover up to 95% of the heat in the exhaust air and is a great method to help make a property more energy efficient. It can be an essential part of a new build property design, support with SAP points.

Support with Condensation & Mould Complaints

At EnviroVent we have a nationwide team of qualified Ventilation Engineers. We have a wealth of experience in helping social landlords across the UK with free of charge property surveys for condensation & mould. This survey will provide an independent report on the environmental data in the property and advise if a ventilation solution will assist in solving the condensation and mould complaint

Design support for Social Landlords

We know that one size doesn’t fit all. That’s why at EnviroVent we offer a completely free ventilation design service for social housing providers – including detailed technical drawings to support compliance with SAP assessments and the latest Building Regulations.

Remote Environmental Data-logging

We have also built a partnership with Vericon Systems, a manufacturer of remote technologies, to enable social landlords to take advantage of real time visibility over environmental conditions within their properties.

The partnership will allow our team to install Vericon’s remote monitoring and management platform, alongside our ventilation solutions following free property surveys to help predict and manage condensation and mould risks.

Contact us

For further information on the EnviroVent Social Housing range please use the link below to find out more: Experts In Ventilation For Social Housing | EnviroVent 

James Kane, Head of Social Housinge: jkane@envirovent.com
m: +447395790305