Providing good quality, well maintained and safe homes is our top priority.
For you, the customer, following a Stock Condition survey you will be assured that your home is well maintained and safe. Without the survey, you could miss out on important repairs and improvements.
During the survey visit, which takes less than an hour, our surveyor will take photos and view all rooms, both inside and outside of your home. You don’t need to do anything, you will just need to be home and there to open the door to our surveyor. We understand the surveys may feel intrusive but rest assured, we’re not checking how tidy your home is, we’re just making sure it meets health and safety standards and is in a good state of repair.
It's also part of your tenancy agreement to allow access for these surveys to be undertaken.
For more information about our survey programme, please take a look at the FAQs below:
Why are we carrying out this survey?
We have a legal duty to check your home regularly. The data gathered from the surveys will be used to ensure your home is safe, we’re meeting the required standards and to plan for repairs and future investment programmes.
The stock condition survey is separate to our usual safety programmes such as gas safety servicing and electrical testing.
Who will be carrying out the survey?
PCH has an in-house team of Stock Condition Surveyors, who all carry an ID badge.
When will the surveys be undertaken?
The surveys are completed all year, generally between Monday to Friday.
What information do the surveys contain?
A stock condition survey is a visual inspection of your home to assess its condition and identify any issues or maintenance requirements. It typically includes:
- A description of the building, its location, and the type of accommodation
- A history of the building, including any recent alterations
- A visual inspection of the home's main elements, such as the roof, windows, doors, kitchen, and bathroom
- Identification of health and safety issues, like damp and mould
- Photographs of the home's components
How long do they take?
The time to complete a survey is between 30 minutes and one hour, dependent on the type of property.
How often will we complete a survey on your home?
This will vary between once a year to every five years. We will assess the condition of your homes frequently enough and in sufficient depth to maintain quality and safety.
What happens after the survey?
Any identified hazards or repairs will be reported and actioned in accordance with our policies. The Stock Condition Data is critical in determining our planned programmes for replacement components such as kitchen, bathrooms, windows and doors. It also supports our longer-term financial planning.
Why have you been asked to take part in the survey?
Every home will be visited because we require accurate, up-to date and robust information about all of our homes.
What does the survey involve?
The survey will involve a visual inspection of the entire home including key components (kitchen, bathroom, windows). It is not intrusive, and you will not be required to move personal possessions.
What is the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)?
This was introduced through the Housing Act 2004 and provides a way of assessing the risk of a hazard to the health and safety of the most vulnerable occupiers of a home for each particular hazard. The inspection evaluates 29 hazards, classifying them as either category 1 or category 2 based on the severity of the risk. Undertaking HHSRS inspections as part of our Stock Condition Survey is a requirement under the Decent Homes Standard and is a crucial part of ensuring the safety of our residents in their homes.
PCH must legally take action to address all Category 1 hazards and some category 2 hazards. We only consider hazards that are the legal responsibility of the PCH, as the landlord. Any items that are not our legal responsibility will not be taken into consideration. Each hazard is scored based on the most vulnerable group associated with that hazard.
Providing access to our Surveyors
It is a condition of your tenancy agreement to provide access. If you have any support requirements to enable our Surveyors to enter your home, then please contact the Asset team asset.management@plymouthcommunityhomes.co.uk or call Jaime Tickle on 01752 388397. PCH will take all reasonable steps to complete these surveys.
What do I need to do next?
Please look out for your letter, which will provide the date and time our surveyors will be in your area and continue to report any repairs in the usual way.
Who to contact for queries?
Please email any queries to asset.management@plymouthcommunityhomes.co.uk or call Jaime Tickle on 01752 388397.
