Locarla | The UK’s Social Housing Data Platform

Social Housing RMI Business Intelligence & other stuff

Welcome wise reader to this celebratory 253’rd edition of the Locarla Monthly Briefing. This month we are paying tribute to all those brave people who button their shirts all the way to the top, and don’t wear ties. Today, we are all top-buttoners, and we salute you.

So, what’s happened this month? I went to a round table discussion hosted by Ian Wright of the Disruptive Innovators Network. Ian is a very clever, and funny guy, (it’s about 90:10, so probably more mildly amusing than funny) and can pull in some serious movers and shakers to his events. I was there as eye candy but the other people, including folks from the Treasury, sure were interesting. If he will let you, I recommend you join Ian’s gang.

I went to India and saw that huge bats had started roosting in the tree behind our office, which was previously inhabited by massive monkeys. It made me think about all the illegals in the UK eating our swans and foxes ‐ or was it owls and badgers? I can’t remember, but they’ve definitely eaten loads of them. Let’s hope they don’t go to India and start on the bats and monkeys. Makes my blood boil!

I also hosted my first webinar, that wasn’t, on using LLMs and AI Bid software. Nowhere near 500 people showed up, but everyone that did said it was the best webinar, that wasn’t, they had ever attended.

And I rounded off the ‘Tibetan’ month at the Echelon conference where I learnt that teamwork makes the dream work, and no wo/man is an island.

So without further ado, we present to you the October Monthly Briefing with the latest Financial data from 224 Housing Associations, and finally, League tables to get excited about. Lots of money spent, and lots of new faces ‐ long may it continue.

Peace out people.

‘Blue links‘ for all and ‘green links‘ are behind login so dependent on your licence.

Welcome, welcome, one and all.

Housing Association Financial Performance & Insights

For the full report, click here.

It’s all News to me!

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A National Audit Office probe found 98% of insulation under the previous ECO and GBIS schemes was poorly fitted, affecting 23,000 homes and causing widespread damp and mould. Source: The Guardian. Under the Energy Company Obligation, around 4.3m measures have been installed in 2.6m properties up to July 2025. Source: GOV.UK. The Great British Insulation Scheme has delivered 96,900 measures across 75,100 households. Source: GOV.UK. The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund has installed 90,800 measures in 44,500 households across Waves 1, 2.1, and 2.2. Source: GOV.UK. Under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, 94,633 voucher applications had been received by August 2025, with 97% supporting ASHP installations. Source: GOV.UK

Bromford Flagship and LiveWest Homes are in talks to merge for sustainable growth. Source: Bromford Flagship. Thrive Homes and Watford Community Housing are exploring a merger to create Community Gateway, boosting affordable housing in Hertfordshire. Source: Thrive Homes. Stonewater will acquire Porthove Housing Association and Rotary Club of Hove Community Housing Society, adding 97 properties. Source: Housing Today

Westminster London Borough has rebranded its market sale arm as ‘Westminster Living’, aiming to generate nearly £1bn by selling 994 homes to fund new social and affordable housing. Source: Housing Today. Meanwhile, GreenSquareAccord is seeking a buyer for its offsite housing manufacturing business, LoCaL Homes. Source: GreenSquareAccord

The Regulator of Social Housing has published new judgements for ten landlords. Southend‐on‐Sea Borough Council received a C3 rating; Bournemouth Churches Housing Association Ltd (BCHA), Habinteg Housing Association, Paragon Housing Association Ltd., and Railway Housing Association & Benefit Fund were graded G1, V2, and C2; Bournville Village Trust, Coastline Housing, and One Manchester received G1, V2, and C1; Karbon Homes was rated G1, V1, and C2; and B3Living received G1, V1, and C1. Source: GOV.UK

Aster Group plans to invest £1bn over seven years to improve existing homes. Source: Aster Group. ClwydAlyn Housing has obtained £35m to expand its development programme in North and Mid Wales. Source: Powys County Times. Accent Housing received £33.8m from Homes England to deliver 301 additional affordable homes. Source: Accent Housing. Clarion Housing Group secured £26m to accelerate new social housing delivery. Source: Housing Executive. Places for People gained £19.9m to continue delivering affordable homes. Source: Places for People

Premier Technical Services Group (PTSG) has acquired System Hygienics Holdings Ltd, along with its trading arm System Hygienics Ltd, which provides ventilation, air quality, and fire safety compliance services. Source: The Construction Index

Construction firms accounted for 15.2% of all insolvencies in England and Wales in July 2025, with 332 businesses becoming insolvent. Source: BCIS. Tucker Mechanical & Electrical Building Services has filed an administration notice, resulting in staff redundancies. Source: Construction Enquirer. Liverpool M&E contractor HE Simm collapsed, leaving a debt trail of over £18m. Source: Construction Enquirer. Meanwhile, Staffordshire-based retrofit specialist Baxter Kelly went into administration following a steep rise in its cost of sales. Source: Construction News

In England, 29,490 homes started construction between April and June 2025, up 16% year‐on‐year, with 196,500 homes delivered in 2024/25 and 89,100 added by mid‐September. Source: GOV.UK. UK housing activity saw a 10% drop in project starts, 44% fewer contract awards, and a 42% decline in planning approvals. Source: Construction News. BCIS forecasts 15% higher maintenance costs and 24% higher cleaning costs by 2030, with tender prices rising 2.5% annually. Sources: BCIS, BCIS. Contractors are also increasingly cautious, with 57% reducing their risk appetite. Source: Construction Enquirer

Over 700 developments are stalled, risking 8,500 affordable homes as providers pull back from Section 106 agreements. Source: Home Builders Federation. The Housing Ombudsman recorded rising complaints, with 71% upheld and over 2,000 redress findings issued. Source: Housing Ombudsman. Around 10% of social rented homes ‐ nearly 430,000 properties ‐ still fail the Decent Homes Standard. Source: LABM. Vacant homes fell to 0.43% in July 2025, the lowest in three years. Source: Housing Today

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Show me the money!

A PDF guide to contract management on Locarla.

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Opportunities on the Rise: Fresh frameworks and contracts reshape UK’s maintenance and retrofit landscape.

Expanding nationwide, Framework for Building Safety and Compliance Works, and Associated Consultancy Services from Procure Plus Holdings Ltd launches a £579.17m, 48‐month framework spanning fire‐risk assessments, FRAEW consultancy, compartmentation, external fabric improvements, alarms, sprinklers, and electrical works across social housing and the wider public sector.

Continuing the momentum, Repairs, Maintenance and Empty Homes by Orbit Group Ltd. introduces a £190.75m, 60‐month programme across the Midlands, East Anglia, London and the South East — covering emergency, routine and major repairs, voids, statutory maintenance, and damp & mould remediation through regional workstreams.

Strengthening asset improvement options, Windows and Doors Framework – EEM0073 by Efficiency East Midlands Ltd (EEM) establishes a £166.67m, 48‐month framework for the supply and installation of UPVC windows and composite doors across domestic and commercial properties in England and Wales.

Driving development delivery, Clarion Housing Group progresses several large-scale schemes including Majestic Way Main Contractor (£94.83m), Design and Build of 228 Residential Homes at Blenheim Centre Penge (£80.5m), Crystal Palace Park Main Contractor – BRML000015 (£58m), and Redevelopment of London Chest Hospital Block A&B (£33.17m) — advancing affordable housing, regeneration and design‐and‐build projects across Greater London.

Working jointly, Lewes and Eastbourne Councils roll out three linked South East programmes — Responsive Repairs, Voids, Kitchens and Bathrooms (£93.81m), Roof Replacements and Repairs (£43.55m), and Windows & Doors Replacement and Repairs (£24.25m) — focused on maintaining safe, modern homes across 6,700 properties.

Reinforcing service resilience, Repairs, Voids and Planned Works Contract by Dartford Borough Council seeks a partner for a £90m, 60‐month programme covering responsive maintenance, voids, disrepair, major works, adaptations, compliance servicing, and technical inspections.

Across Northern Ireland, Planned Maintenance Contractor Framework from Radius Housing introduces a £64m, 24-month framework for cyclical kitchen, bathroom, and window replacements, alongside larger multi‐element improvement projects.

Meanwhile, Repairs and Maintenance DPS by LHC Procurement Group (SPA) launches a £60m, 48‐month dynamic purchasing system covering multi‐trade building maintenance including roofing, external and internal repairs, M&E, fire alarms, lifts, drainage, pest control and environmental safety across Scotland.

Strengthening local delivery chains, PIN – Responsive Repairs, Voids and Associated Works by Sutton Housing Partnership targets a £43.2m, 96‐month framework to deliver responsive repairs, voids, environmental cleans, damp and mould, carpentry, roofing, drainage, pest control, and asbestos works.

Improving building safety, Mechanical & Electrical Works, Fire Safety and Security Works by Dacorum Borough Council launches a £40m, 60‐month contract covering rewires, EV charging, alarms, AOVs, sprinklers, lightning protection, and warden‐call systems.

Renewing its repair services, PIN – Responsive Repairs & Voids for Social Housing from Home Group begins market engagement for a £33.33m, 60‐month arrangement across 5,600 London homes.

Safeguarding housing stock, Compliance Services Contract by Norwich City Council introduces a £29.25m, 60‐month compliance partnership covering lighting, alarms, access control, ventilation, lightning protection, legionella, and refuse‐chute cleaning.

Promoting independence, Disability Bathroom Adaptations – H796 by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council issues a £19m, 48‐month contract for design and installation of accessible bathrooms across council and DFG‐funded homes.

Closing the month, Retrofit Works – ID646 by Two Rivers Housing brings forward a £15.2m, 48‐month procurement for consultancy, renewable technologies and fabric improvement works supporting energy efficiency and decarbonisation.

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The Other League Tables

Along with our main monthly league tables, ❲see below❳, we also produce tables based on the following trades: Retrofit, Asbestos Survey, Fire Risk Assessment, Water/Legionella & Stock Condition Survey. ❲Premium Clients, click here for the PDF❳

Top of the league in each table are ….

Retrofit:

Wates Group

Asbestos Survey:

Tersus Consultancy

Fire Risk Assessment:

IFI Group

Stock Condition Surveys:

Property Tectonics

Water / Legionella:

Aquatrust Water & Ventilation

September League Tables

Built Environment Contracts

The trades we cover; Responsive Repair, Planned Works (Kitchen/Bathrooms & Doors/Windows), Gas Servicing/Central Heating, Voids, Fire Safety & Roofing.