The RSH (Regulator of Social Housing) has found that the majority of social landlords expect to catch up on all non-essential repairs work by the end of the year, with some saying their backlog will likely be cleared by as early as next month.
In its fourth monthly Coronavirus survey, the RSH also found that a higher percentage of landlords said they had completed all emergency repairs, gas compliance checks, and fire-safety checks at the end of July compared with previous months.
The RSH attributes this finding to a sharp fall in the number of tenants refusing access to their properties – though it said some providers continue to report challenges in accessing properties.
“Some feeling pressure”
Although the RSH survey found the majority of landlords said they are maintaining safe staffing levels and essential service delivery, around a quarter said that they are feeling some pressure.
Some landlords said they are preparing for a second wave of COVID-19 or for future local lockdowns.
They said they are doing this by sourcing personal protective equipment or conducting health and safety checks earlier than planned.
Read more on COVID-19 and housing:
- Tenants in Wales to get six months’ eviction notice
- Government confirms Help to Buy extension
- John Lewis considers move into affordable homes
The RSH surveys
All registered providers with 1,000 or more homes, as well as smaller landlords with a high proportion of supported accommodation, were asked to complete the RSH survey, which had a 98% response rate.
Last month’s report warned that social landlords may face staffing pressures later in the year as a result of workers cancelling leave and working longer hours to cover absences, which may impact service delivery.
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