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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.

We are delighted to introduce two new colleagues who have recently joined CHIC. Jess Brittle brings her expertise to the Procurement Team and Jeremy Davis who strengthens our Technical Team. Both bring extensive sector experience having worked at CHIC member organisations and have a passion for delivering high quality services. Here’s a little more about each of them. 

 

Procurement Team – Jess Brittle “I’m Jess and I have recently joined CHIC as a Senior Procurement Manager, bringing over 8 years of experience in public sector policy and procurement. Before this, I worked for Birmingham City Council as a Sub-Category Manager for construction and associated professional services. I was responsible for managing all procurements in this sub-category including housing developments, property repairs and maintenance, highways and transport schemes, and landscape construction.  I have always worked for local authorities since I graduated from university, so I’m looking forward to experiencing something different at CHIC and supporting many different members with varied projects."

Technical Team – Jeremy Davis "I’m Jeremy Davis and I’ve recently joined CHIC as Head of Technical Services, bringing 30 years’ experience in the Social Housing Sector, predominantly in senior building surveying and asset management roles. My expertise spans technical knowledge, building pathology, decarbonisation, and a practical evidence-led approach. This experience has helped landlords improve performance, reduce risk, and deliver better outcomes for residents.  I’m excited to be part of CHIC’s Strategic Services Team and look forward to supporting our members and contributing to technically focussed procurement solutions."

 

 

 The sessions introduced the new framework partners to CHIC’s team, explain where and how we work and set out the events that new partners can get engaged in. The frameworks cover the whole of the UK, but are allocated on a regional basis, so members have a full range of supplier options to choose from.  Each webinar explained the key aspects of the relevant framework, including the Lot structure, specifications, pricing, call off selection, and how the frameworks will operate in practice.  

 

 

 Highlight from the Q&AWhat are the thresholds?Within the new procurement act there are a number of thresholds that are published:• £207,000 for goods and services• £5,193,000 for works contractsAnything above these require full compliance with PA 2023 regulations, anything that is below that threshold, there is more flexibility. The framework does however work equally well for any call off contract, irrespective of value.   

 

 

 Highlight from the Q&AIf I have a contract under the old Multiple Elements framework, can I extend under the new one?No, you can’t extend the contract from the previous framework, as you can’t have a contract that transcends two frameworks, which are separate (on time limited) procurements. What we can do, providing that the contractor that was on the previous framework and is on the new framework, is to consider a business case for the direct award of a new replacement contract. This must though be aligned to the new framework terms and will be executed as a new contract, subject of course to the business case being compliant.

 

Congratulations to all awarded suppliers on both frameworks and thank you to all our speakers and everyone who attended last week. If you would like more information about either framework, or to find out more about CHIC Webinars, please contact enquiries@chicltd.co.uk or visit our website at www.chicltd.co.uk   

 

 

CHIC becomes first asset management and procurement consortium to join CCPI Demand-Side Supporters We are pleased to announce that CHIC has become the first asset management and procurement consortium to join the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) as a Demand-Side Supporter. As a not for profit, member owned consortium, we support more than 300 social landlords with asset management and procurement services. By joining CCPI Demand-Side Supporters, we aim to champion higher standards of construction product information, ensuring it is accurate, reliable and accessible throughout our supply chain.  Demand-Side Supporters play an important role in driving positive culture change across the built environment by using their influence to promote improved product information management and responsible marketing practices. This is particularly important for organisations with building safety responsibilities, including social housing providers.  Through this commitment, we will work in partnership with CCPI to implement the Supporter Pledge and promote the tangible adoption of CCPI principles across our members, partners and supply chain over the coming years.  This aligns with our ongoing focus on safety, compliance and value for money, reinforcing our commitment to supporting members to make informed procurement decisions that deliver better outcomes for residents.  Find out more about CCPI Demand-Side Supporters and what this commitment means here: https://www.cpicode.org.uk/  

 

This Month’s Housing Updates

Social Housing Access and Delivery Pressures Persist
Affordability and access to housing remain severely constrained for low-income households, with rising private rents intensifying pressure on the social housing system. Rental inflation across the UK is at its highest rate in 14 years, compounding challenges for households already struggling to secure stable accommodation and increasing demand for social housing provision.

Read more: Big Issue

Building Safety Regulator Accelerates Decisions but Backlog Persists
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has significantly increased the pace of Gateway 2 approvals, tripling its decision rate to over 700 approvals in late 2025 compared with just over 200 earlier in the year. Gateway 2 is a critical safety approval stage for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022. Despite process improvements, including batching and centralised decision-making that have reduced average decision times to around 12 weeks, around 40 legacy new-build cases (representing approximately 8,400 homes) remain unresolved. The backlog means the regulator has missed its January clearance target, continuing to delay high-rise housing delivery and remediation works.

Read more: Gov.uk

Disputes Over Section 106 Standards Leave Homes Unsold
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) reports that registered providers are seeking Section 106 homes to be built to standards “well beyond” current building regulations, including alignment with the Future Homes Standard before it is formally introduced. HBF argues this has contributed to thousands of unsold Section 106 homes, although it says the situation has recently stabilised. Registered providers and MPs dispute this, pointing to rising specification and retrofit costs, higher energy efficiency requirements and additional pressures from new levies and biodiversity net gain rules, all of which they argue are undermining scheme viability and reducing affordable housing contributions.

Read more: Builders Federation

UK Construction Sector Remains in Prolonged Decline
Industry analysis indicates that UK construction activity continues to reduce, with output falling and the sector experiencing over a year of sustained decline. Weak demand, higher costs and regulatory pressures are weighing on delivery across residential and infrastructure projects, raising concerns about long-term capacity and the pace of housing supply.

Read more: Infrastructure Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live Procurements

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

Decoration Works
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

Consultancy Services
CHIC will shortly be releasing an opportunity to tender for a multi-disciplinary consultancy framework that can be accessed by existing and future members of CHIC. The scope and potential lot structure will cover a wide range of built environment related professional consultancy services comprising but not restricted to building surveying services, contract administration, employers agent, quantity surveying services, and principal designer and any other roles that may be required to support the delivery of our members asset management and other services. Support may be required at any project stage from Inception to Post Completion/In Use and may be in relation to planned works programmes, individual works contracts, or any other projects that may arise during the term.

The Framework Agreement will be for the provision of construction and housing sector related professional services by a number of consultants and their supply chains.

The Framework will provide national coverage across the UK. The opportunity is provided for suppliers to identify those areas or regions where they will be able to provide a service.

Other new Frameworks

Initial planning is underway for the following frameworks:
• Building Compliance - including lots and sublots for Audit, Water Hygiene, Asbestos and Abatement Services and General Risk Advisory Services• Roofing

Dynamic Markets

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 our strategy will first focus 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.

 

 

Recycle-IT, established in 2021, operates within the communities of Bolton. The charity’s core mission is to reduce digital exclusion, promote sustainability, and create training and employment opportunities, with a strong focus on supporting low-income households. Many families in these circumstances lack essential digital skills because they have limited access to the internet and do not have the necessary IT equipment. With digital access becoming a crucial part of daily life post-pandemic for education, employment and everyday services, lack of access to a computer or the internet can lead to a disconnect from society. To address this, Recycle-IT has collected over 100 electronic devices to be refurbished and distributed. Their ongoing work aims to reduce the 15% of households that don’t have easy access to the internet by removing the barriers that hold people back.
Through their redistribution services, they have supported more than 1,000 families and individuals since their relaunch. As a result, access to essential services, job searches, and online education has become far more achievable, enhancing peoples experiences and opening pathways to new opportunities. How funding helps?

 

Refurbishing IT hardware is not free. Donated items can arrive in a range of conditions from those with slight damage to others requiring skilled repairs and specialised components. Carrying out refurbishments can become costly as sourcing of trained individuals or training volunteers is necessary, as is the purchase of any parts required.  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 Volunteer "You can feel the difference locally. Fewer devices going to waste and more being reused by people who really need them" 

Participant “I didn’t realise the environmental impact until I joined. Now I feel like I’m part of something that’s growing and making a real difference" 
Organiser "It’s still early days, but the project is already helping to close the digital divide while cutting down on waste — a win for the community and the planet"
   

What the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme means for our members
Stephen Sharman, Director of Member Services.

The new Social and Affordable Homes Programme for 2026 to 2036 is a major milestone for the sector, delivering 300,000 new homes. As a procurement consortium that provides development solutions, we are already thinking about what it means for our members. So, how can CHIC support housing providers to make the most of the opportunity?
A decade of stability for development plans  A ten year programme gives social landlords the breathing space they need to plan development more strategically. It will help shape delivery pipelines, taking decisions with confidence on land acquisition, planning and building longer term relationships with contractors and consultants. From a procurement perspective it lets us help you map out the right commercial strategies over several years, rather than reacting scheme by scheme.
Strong focus on social rent  At least sixty percent of homes delivered through this programme must be for social rent. This aligns closely with the needs we hear from members every day. The pressure on affordability is real and this programme gives providers a better chance to bring forward schemes that have the greatest social impact.

 

 

• Continuous Market Engagement for flexible, individual schemes. • Strategic Partnerships for larger and more consistent programmes. We will help members understand what each route demands and what it means for procurement, planning and risk management.  What Homes England will expect  Homes England will be looking for deliverable schemes, strong design standards and clear value for money. They want real confidence that providers can secure land, achieve planning consent and manage costs effectively. Through CHIC’s newbuild framework and our procurement expertise we can help you assemble the right consultants, suppliers and contractors to evidence this.  How CHIC will support providers  We will translate the programme into practical steps. Our comprehensive 8 year Newbuild Framework, launched in 2024, provides a whole range of consultancy, contractor and MMC solutions. We will guide members on procurement strategies, provide a compliant and competitive route to market, support partnership development and share insight across our membership. Most importantly, we will be a steady hand for providers who may not have the in house capacity to navigate a programme of this scale.  As a longer term framework, it is designed to facilitate progressive programmes of work, ideal for the new, longer term AHP. Looking ahead  This programme is a chance to deliver more homes, better homes and homes that truly meet local needs. As a procurement consortium we see our role as enabling members to focus on development with CHIC’s support on the commercial and compliance challenges. We are ready to help you turn this long term funding into real delivery for your communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHIC is Proud to be Headline Sponsor of the People in Housing Awards Midlands 2026

Hosted by Niyaa People and taking place on Thursday 19th March 2026 at the Library of Birmingham, the event celebrates the individuals and teams who make housing happen across the Midlands. From frontline teams improving homes and supporting tenants, to those driving innovation and positive change across the sector, this event shines a well deserved spotlight on the people whose hard work keeps our communities thriving.

As a procurement consortium working with housing associations, councils and sector partners, we see at close hand the commitment and professionalism that underpins housing across the Midlands. The region has a strong tradition of hard work and resilience, reflected in the people who deliver real improvements. That is why these awards matter.
Sponsoring this event aligns closely with CHIC’s values. We believe strong homes are built by strong partnerships, and those partnerships are powered by people. Recognising their dedication, celebrating their achievements and giving them a moment to be seen and appreciated is something we are passionate about supporting.

The awards night itself promises to be a fantastic opportunity for the Midlands housing community to come together, share achievements, enjoy good food and drinks and raise a glass to the people who deserve recognition.
We would encourage everyone across our Midlands membership and wider network to get involved:
REGISTER TO ATTEND

NOMINATE A COLLEAGUE, TEAM OR PARTNER

Good news for anyone who has not submitted yet, the nomination deadline has been extended to Friday 20th February, giving you extra time to put forward the people who truly deserve to be recognised.Find out more, register to attend, or submit a nomination at www.peopleinhousing.co.uk