The Social Housing Round Table

How Does Effective Partnership Work Support Community Cohesion in Birmingham?

In this Social Housing Round Table session, hosted by Matt Baird, we were joined by Emma Peniket and Julie Smart from the Birmingham Social Housing Partnership to explore how effective partnership working can support community cohesion.
The discussion focused on what true collaboration looks like in practice, particularly within community safety and resident-first decision making. Emma and Julie shared how open communication, shared responsibility and a willingness to work beyond organisational boundaries are helping to create stronger outcomes for residents across Birmingham.
This session highlights what can happen when partnerships move beyond theory and into action, offering valuable insight for housing professionals looking to strengthen collaboration and deliver more joined-up services.
Big thank you to Case Management Solutions Group Ltd and Alertacall Ltd for sponsoring The Social Housing Round Table, without them, none of this would be possible.

Electrical Safety in The Social Housing Sector

Electrical safety in social housing has, for a long time, sat in the shadow of gas safety. Everyone knows the annual gas check. Far fewer give the same weight to electrical installations — installations that can harbour serious, hidden faults and show no outward signs of danger whatsoever.
That is beginning to change. New regulations are now coming into force that will require all social housing providers to have electrical installations inspected and tested every five years — and to get a copy of the certificate to tenants within 28 days.
In episode 220 of The Social Housing Round Table, Matt Baird is joined by Martin Simmonds, Head of M&E at a large housing association and Chair of the Electrical Safety Roundtable's Social Housing Subgroup, and Lana Adkin, Communications Officer at NAPIT and secretarial support for the ESR. Together, they walk through what the new regulations actually require, what the biggest operational challenges are, and how the Electrical Safety Roundtable has been working to support both landlords and tenants in meeting them.
The conversation covers what an electrical inspection involves and what the report codes mean, the scale of the access problem facing the sector, the free tenant education resources the ESR has developed — including an EasyRead document co-produced with adults with learning disabilities — and the thorny question of who is responsible when things go wrong.
It is a practical, grounded conversation on a topic that carries real consequences for residents living in social housing across the country. Well worth your time.
Big thank you to Case Management Solutions Group Ltd and Alertacall Ltd for sponsoring The Social Housing Round Table, without them, none of this would be possible.

Digital Transformation in Social Housing: Is it Actually Working for Tenants?

Digital transformation in social housing has been underway for years. New systems, new platforms, new technology landing in homes and housing offices across the country. But there's a question that doesn't get asked often enough: is any of it actually working for the people it's supposed to serve?
In episode 219 of The Social Housing Round Table, Matt Baird is joined by Stewart Davison, founder of The PropTech Peer Group, for an honest and wide-ranging conversation about where digital transformation is landing well, where it's falling short, and why residents and tenants are still so often an afterthought in the process.
The discussion covers the gap between what housing providers buy and what tenants actually need, the role of co-design in technology procurement, why smaller tech providers often get this right when larger ones don't, and what it would take to genuinely put residents at the heart of digital decision-making.
The session also features contributions from tenants and housing professionals in the room, including a candid account from a tenant about the real-life impact of technology imposed without her input.
Plenty to reflect on for anyone involved in technology, procurement or tenant engagement in the sector.
Big thank you to Case Management Solutions Group Ltd and Alertacall Ltd for sponsoring The Social Housing Round Table, without them, none of this would be possible.

The Calling Kettle: Can Smart Technology Tackle Domestic Abuse? | The Social Housing Round Table

Trigger warning: this session includes detailed personal testimony of domestic abuse and coercive control.
What do you do when you can't reach for your phone? When someone has taken it, or when reaching for it would put you in more danger than staying silent?
That was the question Katy Longhurst asked herself. Not as a thought experiment — but living through years of coercive control, surveillance, stalking, and violence at the hands of an ex-partner who had the training, the resources, and the determination to make sure no one could help her.
Her panic alarm was eventually disconnected. The police logged 169 separate incidents, each handled in isolation, none of them connecting the full picture.
So she built something herself. Using her background in smart buildings and IoT, she created AskJoan — a cloud-based system that detects unusual power surges from everyday household appliances.
In this conversation, Katy joins Matt Baird at the Social Housing Round Table to share her full story — and to explore what it means for the housing sector, for local authorities, and for the thousands of people living in social housing who may be experiencing domestic abuse right now without anyone knowing.
This session covers:
The realities of coercive control and how it escalates long before it becomes visible
How AskJoan works and what it requires to be deployed
The funding and commissioning landscape, and why the biggest barrier isn't the technology
What housing providers and local authorities can do, practically, to support victims
Why detection and awareness must come before the crisis point The relationship between the sector, the police, and the tools available
Also joining the conversation: Evie, Domestic Abuse and Exploitation Research Associate at AskJoan, and Lucy Burton, Business Development and DA Specialist at Viviplu.
A candid, important, and at times deeply affecting discussion.
If you'd like to learn more about AskJoan or enquire about the 50 free pilot licenses currently available, contact the team via LinkedIn or email lucy.burton@viviplu.co.uk
Big thank you to Case Management Solutions Group Ltd and Alertacall Ltd for sponsoring The Social Housing Round Table, without them, none of this would be possible.

The Management Capability Gap: The Biggest Risk Housing Boards Aren't Talking About?

In this Social Housing Round Table session, hosted by Matt Baird, we were joined by Hayley Gillard, CEO of Compassionate Leaders, to explore a critical question for the sector: is there a management capability gap that housing boards are not talking about?
The conversation examined the growing pressure on leaders across housing organisations, the expectations placed on middle and senior management, and the risks that emerge when capability, support and development do not keep pace with complexity.
Hayley shared insight into leadership behaviours, organisational culture and the importance of creating environments where managers are equipped to lead effectively, not just deliver operationally. The session challenged boards and senior leaders to consider where capability gaps may exist and what can be done to address them.
A thought-provoking discussion for anyone involved in leadership, governance or organisational development within social housing.
Big thank you to Case Management Solutions Group Ltd and Alertacall Ltd for sponsoring The Social Housing Round Table, without them, none of this would be possible.

Decent Homes Standard as a Framework for Healthier Homes

In this Social Housing Round Table session, hosted by Matt Baird, we were joined by Dr Eve Blezard from the Chartered Institute of Housing to explore whether the Decent Homes Standard can act as a meaningful framework for healthier homes.
The discussion brought together more than 90 people across the sector to consider what “decent” really means in practice and how standards can evolve to better support resident health and wellbeing. Dr Blezard shared insight into the challenges around communication, individual needs and interpretation of the standard, while also highlighting the importance of collaboration across the sector.
The conversation also examined the role of housing providers, policymakers and partners in reducing waste, improving outcomes and ensuring that the next phase of the Decent Homes Standard genuinely supports healthier living environments for residents.
Big thank you to Case Management Solutions Group Ltd and Alertacall Ltd for sponsoring The Social Housing Round Table, without them, none of this would be possible.

Complaints: Resolution vs Culture

In this Social Housing Round Table session, hosted by Elaine Middleton, we were joined by Elena Boyle from EVMB Consulting Ltd to explore a crucial question for the sector: are we focusing on complaint resolution, or on complaint culture?
The discussion looked beyond process and timescales to examine how organisational culture shapes the way complaints are received, investigated and learned from. Elena shared insight into the difference between simply closing cases and genuinely resolving issues, and challenged providers to consider whether their systems support openness, accountability and learning.
This session offers valuable reflection for anyone involved in complaints handling, governance or leadership within social housing.
Big thank you to Case Management Solutions Group Ltd and Alertacall Ltd for sponsoring The Social Housing Round Table, without them, none of this would be possible.

STAIRs: What Providers Need To Do Now

In this Social Housing Round Table session, hosted by Elaine Middleton, we were joined by Mags Pearson, Senior Consultant at DTP, to explore what providers need to be doing now in response to STAIRs.
The conversation focused on the Social Tenants Access to Information Requirements and what they mean in practice for landlords. Mags provided clear insight into regulatory expectations, the importance of transparency, and the systems and cultural shifts required to meet the new requirements effectively.
The session examined what good preparation looks like, how organisations can move beyond compliance towards genuine openness, and why getting ahead of the curve now will matter in the months ahead.
A practical and timely discussion for housing professionals responsible for governance, compliance and tenant engagement.
Big thank you to Case Management Solutions Group Ltd and Alertacall Ltd for sponsoring The Social Housing Round Table, without them, none of this would be possible.

How Our Person-Centred Approach Reduced Rent Arrears By Over 50%

In this Social Housing Round Table session, hosted by Elaine Middleton, we were joined by Tom O'Leary from Thanet District Council to explore how a person-centred approach led to a reduction in rent arrears of over 50%.
Tom shared practical insight into the changes made at Thanet, focusing on shifting conversations with residents, understanding individual circumstances, and moving away from purely transactional or enforcement-led approaches. The discussion highlighted how trust, consistency and early intervention can transform outcomes for both residents and landlords.
This session offers valuable learning for housing professionals interested in tackling rent arrears in a way that is effective, sustainable and rooted in people rather than process alone.
Big thank you to Case Management Solutions Group Ltd and Alertacall Ltd for sponsoring The Social Housing Round Table, without them, none of this would be possible.

Preparing for The Digital Switchover: The Impact for Landlords and Residents

In this Social Housing Round Table session, hosted by Elaine Middleton, we were joined by Paul Berney from TSA to discuss how landlords and providers can prepare for the UK’s digital switchover.
The conversation explored what the switchover means in practice, the risks of inaction, and the potential impact on residents who rely on technology-enabled care and telecare services. Paul shared clear insight into timelines, responsibilities and the importance of planning early, while emphasising the need to keep residents at the centre of decision-making.
This session is essential viewing for housing professionals who want to understand their role in the digital switchover, reduce risk and ensure residents remain safe, supported and informed.
Big thank you to Case Management Solutions Group Ltd and Alertacall Ltd for sponsoring The Social Housing Round Table, without them, none of this would be possible.