A wave of regulatory reform is reshaping how housing maintenance is approached in the UK. As the consultation on Decent Homes Standard 2 closes, the direction is clear: legislation is no longer just about minimum standards, it’s about safeguarding resident health and wellbeing. This shift demands a more joined-up, strategic approach to maintaining homes.
We spoke with property maintenance firm Hankinson Whittle, to understand how these changes are already influencing housing providers—and what more needs to be done to keep pace.
A shift in regulation and mindset
The Decent Homes Standard 2 (DHS2) proposal outlines a much-needed update to current housing standards and reinforces key elements of other legislation, such as Awaab’s Law and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). This joined up regulation signals to housing providers that they must go beyond quick fixes and adopt holistic maintenance strategies that put resident safety and long-term solutions first.
Minor process tweaks won’t cut it—housing associations will need to rethink how they manage repairs and maintenance.
Sam Frame, Managing Director of Hankinson Whittle, tells us this movement is already underway:
“We’ve definitely seen a shift over the past few years, especially since the early conversations around Decent Homes 2. Housing associations are starting to move away from reactive fixes towards more strategic, maintenance planning, driven by regulation and a desire to improve outcomes for residents.”
From short-term fixes to long-term impact
Incoming regulation under Awaab’s Law has already prompted many housing sssociations to change the way they tackle damp and mould. The results, says Sam, are long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes:
“We recently supported a client in addressing long standing damp and mould issues, not just treating symptoms, but upgrading ventilation and educating the customer in being proactive in prevention. By tackling the root causes, we see better lasting results, reducing repeat visits causing less disruption and helping ensure the safety of residents.”
The DHS2 proposes changes to the facilities that must be provided in housing and introduces new emphasis on condition of components over age. This suggests that housing sssociations will need to review multiple aspects of safety and maintenance across their housing stock.
Taken together, these changes make a strong case for looking at housing maintenance as a bigger picture.
The benefits and challenge of implementation
As well as regulatory compliance, Sam shares some of the positive outcomes from breaking down siloed maintenance:
“Taking a joined-up approach delivers real value, it saves housing providers time and money, improves resident satisfaction, and supports improving standards, all whilst causing less disruption.”
So what’s holding some providers back?
“The main challenge is funding is often restricted to specific works,” Sam explains “which can make it difficult to coordinate repairs in a way that works with the holistic approach.”
It’s unclear at this stage how the implementation of DHS2 will be funded. Some have suggested that the long-term funding settlement review may be required to play a part in supporting housing associations through this transition.
And with many residents already feeling the pinch, passing on additional costs may be a difficult message to land.
What’s next for housing providers?
Regulatory change is coming, and it’s set to transform the way housing maintenance is delivered. For housing providers, the message is clear: review your approach, plan ahead, and be ready to adapt.
There may be bumps in the road, but we must stay focused on why change is needed – to create homes that are safer, healthier, and better for the people who live in them.
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