Stock Condition Surveys

Are you a housing provider looking to effectively plan ahead and budget for your future portfolio investment needs? Eager to adopt a proactive rather than reactive approach to issues so you can address the likes of health and safety concerns before they escalate? Stock Condition Surveys are the answer.

Planning and forecasting expenditure on the maintenance of a building is vital for any property owner. But for social housing providers, the difference is that the building is more than just bricks and mortar: these are people’s homes.

A more considered approach to housing Stock Condition Surveys is therefore essential, with a need for residents’ welfare to remain at the centre of all decision making. Knowledge of how to minimise disruption whilst effecting timely vital works within budget is also crucial, as is the ability to collate data that is robust and comprehensive enough to make sound investment and planning decisions.

Faithorn Farrell Timms has over two decades’ experience in providing comprehensive Stock Condition Surveys within the social housing, education and leisure sectors, currently delivering over 20,000 reports every year.

Housing Stock Condition Surveys – What’s the FFT difference?

Over 20 years, FFT has built a reputation as one of the UK’s leading providers of Stock Condition Surveys to the social housing sector. With increasing regulatory scrutiny and a need for high-quality, professionally collected and validated property asset data, FFT’s dedicated Stock Condition Survey team can be relied upon to deliver exactly what housing associations and local authorities need to make sound investment and business planning decisions.

Our ‘bigger picture’ approach, and knowledge of how better-informed decision making influences outcomes for residents, helps us enhance the support we’re able to give our clients throughout the entire housing stock surveying process.

Working collaboratively with our clients, we ensure the data we produce for them is compatible with the various asset management systems used sector wide, so that everything is perfectly streamlined.

Our experience is extensive, as is our capacity. Delivering more than 20,000 Stock Condition Surveys annually, our team has developed expertise across a wide mix of property types and locations across the UK and Ireland. Individual commissions range from less than 100 dwellings, to over 10,000.

Whilst our core work lies within social housing, we regularly deliver Stock Condition Surveys across non-housing sectors, such as schools, universities and theatres.

A fully managed service, for client – and resident – peace of mind

At FFT, our Stock Condition Survey services are fully managed by specialist Survey Managers. Each commission is personally overseen by an Equity Partner for the utmost reassurance of quality and accuracy.

Every inspection is allocated to a trained and security-vetted surveyor, with post-inspection validation checks completed by the Survey Manager.

A friendly, helpful ‘human’ resident interface comes courtesy of our in-house survey administration team, each member of which has specific experience in dealing with resident needs. They take responsibility for making arrangements for access, as well as providing essential support, reassurance and safeguarding.

Project progress is managed on a daily basis, with clients receiving regular reports, and communication channels continuously open.

Stock Condition Surveys – Related Services

At FFT, our SCS team routinely collaborates with our Strategic Asset Management consultants, allowing us to deliver highly detailed and strategically valuable all-round services to our clients, including:

Strategic property and estate Options Appraisals
Stock Rationalisation, Acquisition and Disposal Agency
Energy efficiency and decarbonisation studies
Performance viability assessment and modelling
Planned maintenance programme development

Frequently Asked Questions – What is a Stock Condition Survey?

A Stock Condition Survey (SCS) is an assessment of the condition, performance and future investment needs associated with a property or property portfolio.

An SCS records the essential characteristics of a building in a way that allows meaningful comparative analysis across the portfolio, from entire stock to individual properties.

The survey provides a comprehensive, structured set of data which documents the construction and services elements and components of a building. The process involves assessing the age, condition and remaining lifespan of each component, from which future works and their associated costs can be predicted.

For property portfolios, the results are combined to produce a dataset that covers the entire stock. The resulting ‘big data’ set is expertly validated and processed to produce summary analytical reports, including performance ratings and financial forecasts.

During a Stock Condition Survey, additional assessments can be carried out to enhance the value of the process. These may include Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Retrofit Assessments (RAs), and measured surveys.

Who benefits from a Stock Condition Survey?

Whilst the majority of demand for an SCS comes from social housing providers, numerous other sectors and building types can benefit from these surveys. These include office blocks, industrial premises, educational campuses and leisure facilities.

Basically, any building owner with a need to forecast future maintenance and repair investment will benefit from an SCS. Being aware of the condition of your property assets and knowing where you may need to allocate funds in the future puts you in an advantageous position, where unexpected, costly surprises become a thing of the past.

What is the difference between a regular building survey and a Stock Condition Survey?

Unlike traditional, ‘single entity’ building surveys, a Stock Condition Survey is delivered on scale and carried out in such a way that allows meaningful comparison across multiple properties. It also allows for analysis of data from strategic to granular levels.

An SCS may be undertaken in phases, covering an entire portfolio, or a representative sample. Results can be used for various purposes, including performance and quality assessment, investment planning, compliance and regulatory fulfilment and options appraisals.

What does a Stock Condition Survey involve?

The surveyor conducting the SCS will undertake a visual check of the condition of the main components, both inside and outside the property. These may include:

Outside:

Roof coverings
Chimneys
Wall finishes
Windows
Doors
Fences and boundaries
Paths

Inside:

Kitchens
Bathrooms
Heating system
Electrical system
Insulation levels

The survey provides an estimate of the age, condition and life expectancy of the components, with the information allowing clients to establish their financial liabilities for up to 30 years.

For more information please contact:

Matt Meehan

Equity Partner

01689 885 080

Colin Farrell

Senior Partner

01689 885 080

Associated Services

Strategic Asset Management Stock Rationalisation

Key Clients

Optivo Gravesend Churches Housing Association Clarion Housing Group

What is a stock condition survey?

A Stock Condition Survey (SCS) is an assessment of the condition, performance and future investment needs associated with a property or property portfolio.

Frameworks

Consultancy Services Framework (South East Consortium) National Framework Partnership

Documents

latest projects

Diocese of Southwark – Bishop Thomas Grant School

FFT was commissioned to act as Principal Designer and Contract Administrator to oversee the term-time replacement of windows across two blocks of the Bishop Thomas Grant School. Works went to plan causing minimal disruption, resulting in a much- improved learning environment for students, and potential energy savings for the school.

London South East Academies Trust – Horizons Academy

FFT was commissioned to act as Principal Designer and Contract Administrator to oversee the replacement of the rooﬁng system at Horizons Academy in Bexley, part of the London South East Academies Trust family of schools.

Cyclical Redecoration Works for MTVH’s Sheltered Housing Scheme

FFT were appointed by long term client Metropolitan Thames Valley (MTV) to manage cyclical redecoration works to 48 properties under their sheltered housing scheme for residents with special needs.

Options Appraisal at Randlesdown Road, Lewisham

FFT were appointed in October 2021 to conduct an Options Appraisal to assist Phoenix Community Housing to consider investment requirements at one of their owned ﬂats in the London Borough of Lewisham.

New Build at Darwin Green, Cambridge

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FFT was appointed by long term client Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) to manage intrusive surveys of their building stock.

Bathroom Pods at King George’s Hospital

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Victoria Court External Repairs & Redecorations

FFT were appointed in multiple roles by long term client Gateway Housing Association to manage extensive repair and redecoration works to a tenanted residential block within their sheltered housing scheme.

Fire Safety Upgrades to Listed Properties

FFT were appointed by AD Construction Group who were working on behalf of Islington Council to carry out ﬁre safety upgrades to 18 listed properties located in a Conservation Area

New Build at Crewe Lane, Kenilworth

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FFT were appointed as Employer’s Agent to manage a signiﬁcant cladding remediation project at Equinox House, a 10-storey residential block located in a busy East London town.

Taberner House New Build, Croydon

FFT were appointed to act as Employer’s Agents and Clerk of Works for the design and construction of 172 units across two blocks in central Croydon.

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New Build Apartments at Shenfield Bloodbank Site

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New Build at Haling Park Road, Croydon

L&Q approached us with a requirement for Clerk of Works services on a new build residential project in Croydon.

Net Zero Carbon Development at Europa Way, Warwick

Faithorn Farrell Timms were appointed by Warwick District Council in July 2020 to provide Employer’s Agent services for the provision of 54 new-build net carbon zero houses and flats at the Triangle, Europa Way, Warwick for affordable rent and shared ownership.

New Build Apartment Blocks at Bilton Road, Perivale

Following appointment to Network Homes EA framework, we were approached to advise on the development potential of a prospective land opportunity Network’s land and new business team had been presented with.

FFT Delivers the First Pilot Disposal for MTVH’s Stock Rationalisation Programme

MTVH, working with FFT, have identified a geographically diverse portfolio for a multi-year stock rationalisation programme.

FFT Housing Consultancy Team Supports Settle Group to Secure Affordable Housing Portfolio

Settle retained FFT to carry out a strategic review of growth opportunities within a defined geography. As part of this commission FFT identified a number of leads and supported settle to secure a mixed tenure social portfolio of 138 homes through private treaty.

Stock Condition Survey for Sutton Housing Partnership

Faithorn Farrell Timms LLP was appointed by Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP) to undertake a stock condition survey covering 6,000 dwellings and 450 communal blocks. Our client wished to capture full component information for the assets in order to provide data for works programming and long term financial forecasting.

Stock Condition Surveys for Eastbourne Borough & Lewes District Councils

Faithorn Farrell Timms was appointed to undertake a stock condition survey covering the entire portfolio of 7,500 dwellings and 575 blocks of flats in Sussex.

Fire Safety Inspections for Extensive Housing Association Portfolio

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Barnsbury Housing Association Asset Management Support

FFT were appointed in July 2019 to provide asset management support in respect of circa 29 properties in Barnsbury Street.

Coldstream House, Seaford Refurbishment

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FFT Housing Consultancy Team Supports Paradigm to Secure Shared Ownership Portfolio

Registered social housing provider Heyford Regeneration brought a portfolio of 68 tenanted shared ownership units to the market in June 2019 for sale by competitive tender. The properties formed part of the Heyford Park Masterplan, a regeneration scheme in Oxfordshire.

FFT Successfully Completes Hyde’s 2019/20 Stock Rationalisation Programme

Housing association The Hyde Group, working with FFT, identified a geographically diverse portfolio of around 900 social housing properties selected on the basis of strategic performance indicators. Tactical advice and a fully comprehensive service were needed to complete the sale of the portfolio against a time-stretched and geographically challenging situation.

FFT Supports West Kent Housing Association to Secure Stock Rationalisation Portfolio Off-Market

West Kent Housing Association (WKHA) had previously commissioned FFT to deliver a Strategic Growth Opportunities Review to identify opportunities for growth that met their strategic, financial, operational and geographical objectives. One of the opportunities identified was the potential acquisition of tenanted stock owned by housing association Stonewater Ltd.

FFT Successfully Completes Sale of Stock Rationalisation Portfolio in Wiltshire, Swindon and Berkshire for Southern Housing Group

the project Southern Housing Group (SHG) identified a need to rationalise its geographical footprint by transferring its westernmost stock holdings to a provider with a stronger local offer. The stock holdings comprised 731 social housing... Read more

Sovereign Housing Association Value for Money Review

the project FFT were appointed by Sovereign Housing Association to undertake a Value for Money (VfM) Review. Sovereign are a leading and very large Housing Association within England, with over 58,000 properties located across a... Read more

Refurbishment and Modernisation Works, Royal Albert Hall

FFT is delighted to have been appointed to provide a range of professional and contract administration services, undertaking various redecoration and refurbishment projects within the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

Procurement of Fire Remedial Frameworks

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Co-Operative House Remediation of ACM Cladding

FFT were instructed by London & Quadrant to manage the remediation of ACM cladding (aluminium composite material) to a large mixed-use seven-storey building located on a busy high street within Peckham Rye, South London. Two elevations were to be clad in ACM. These had commercial units at ground floor and residential units above with external balcony areas.

Locks Court Refurbishment

Faithorn Farrell Timms (FFT) were appointed by Adur District Council to undertake a condition survey of Locks Court, prepare the specification and provide full Contract Administration and procurement services for planned maintenance works and remedial structural repairs to 1-20 and 21-40 Rock Close, Southwick.

Newhaven Youth Centre New-build

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