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How a whole‑property approach can help social housing providers maximise maintenance investment
By James Gregg, Business Growth Director – WPS
For social housing providers, the challenge to maintain operational homes is growing. Increasing regulation, rising resident expectations, ageing stock and the urgency of decarbonisation mean every pound invested must work harder.
With over 30 years in the built environment, including 15 years leading property services at WPS, I’ve increasingly seen how a more holistic approach to asset management can help providers juggle growing compliance requirements while delivering better homes – fit for the future.
Why maintenance must evolve
Safe, stable homes and the places we grow form the cornerstone of our lives. Yet housing providers are operating in an increasingly complex environment, with demand rising as stock ages and new supply struggles to keep pace. Compliance requirements continue to grow, spanning building safety, energy efficiency and the transition to net zero. At the same time, sustained pressure on energy costs is intensifying fuel poverty risks for tenants.
With 1.3 million households currently on social housing waiting lists in England, it’s clear that despite the Government’s increase in targets to build 1.5 million homes by the end of 2029, meeting existing and future housing need means we must consider the full lifecycle of every property to improve the tenant experience.
The value of a whole‑property approach
A whole‑property approach shifts thinking away from individual components towards planned, data‑led investment at the home level. By analysing stock condition and repairs data in the round, providers can better target investment, reduce reactive maintenance and improve resident experience.
We use property‑level data to design WPS planned maintenance programmes that address multiple issues at once – for example, combining energy efficiency upgrades with measures that tackle the root causes of damp and mould. This approach supports progress towards EPC C, improves health outcomes and delivers warmer, more sustainable homes, while reducing long‑term costs.
Crucially, planning works by property rather than component or required replacement can also minimise disruption, reducing access issues and the number of visits required.
Data and collaboration as enablers
To unlock the full benefits of holistic asset management, two principles are essential.
First, common data environments. Housing data is most powerful when shared and connected across all workstreams, partners and contractors. Emerging monitoring technologies and sensors can further enhance insight, helping drive data-led decision-making to prioritise investment based on real‑time evidence of property risk and performance.
Second, collaboration. Closer working across the sector – including with technology providers, policymakers and regulators – will support clearer planning and more resilient delivery models. Cross‑sector partnerships also offer opportunities to explore new funding models and energy efficiency solutions. Our work with Octopus Energy’s Zero Bills pilot, for example, is helping to inform how renewables and alternative financing models can shape future asset maintenance strategies.
Acting now for future‑ready homes
While there’s growing pressure to meet resident needs in an increasingly complex compliance landscape, there’s also a significant opportunity. It’s critical in this sector that we take bold decisions empowered by better use of existing data, strengthening collaboration and adopting a whole‑property mindset, smart maintenance can help investment go further – delivering safer, healthier and more sustainable homes, as well as happier tenants.
Place-based maintenance that leverages the data and relationships we already have will help ensure homes are maintained and communities can enjoy a lasting positive impact, well into the future.
