London and Quadrant Beacon Homes – Decent Home Standard Surveys
Faithorn Farrell Timms was appointed by London and Quadrant Beacon Homes, to undertake a representative sample survey of their stock in and around Slough, Berkshire. The purpose of the data capture was to both assess their compliance with the Decent Home Standard, and gather information that would allow energy ratings to be calculated.
We captured the survey information by means of our client's prescribed paper pro-forma. The data was then input into their in-house database system, which uses a schedule of rates and lifecycles to generate costs that underpin programmes of planned maintenance works.
In total, 800 surveys were undertaken during a period of eight weeks. The survey programme was managed and delivered from our Orpington office, where our dedicated administrators co-ordinated access to residents' properties and controlled the receipt of survey forms from the surveyors in the field.
The complete survey programme was delivered well in advance of our client's deadline. Positive rates of access were achieved by working in close collaboration with our client, to ensure that requests for admission to properties were made well in advance of the intended inspection date.
Separate introduction letters were distributed by London and Quadrant Beacon Homes to specific addresses following receipt of our survey schedules. These encouraged residents to telephone to make firm arrangements for access and gave our surveyors guaranteed appointments, which provided a healthy daily return of surveys.