Repairing the Sector: Tackling Rising Costs

In this episode, Jenny speaks with Paul Walker, Executive Director of Repairs and Maintenance at Home Group, about the sector's mounting repair challenges and innovative solutions. With repair numbers up 20% and costs rising 50%, the pressure is undeniable. Paul shares insights on how Home Group is tackling these issues. 

Key Highlights: 

• DLO Maturity Model: Introducing a “spread betting” labour approach by leveraging in-house teams (Direct Labour Organisations) for flexibility and cost management. 

• Geographical Density: Reducing inefficiencies by consolidating resources across regions, cutting down on van mileage and duplicated efforts. 

• Shared Platforms: Collaborating with Plentific to develop a single data platform for managing repairs efficiently and complying with legislation like Awaab’s Law. 

• Customer-Centric Repairs: Balancing emergencies (damp and mould dominate) with proactive maintenance to improve satisfaction. 

• Bravery in Collaboration: Encouraging sector-wide partnerships to pool resources and solve shared problems. 

Challenges Discussed: 

• Rising labour and material costs. 

• Increasing resident expectations post-COVID. 

• Lack of sector-wide data standards for asset management and repair strategies. 

Best Practices: 

• Measure and address wastage in time, travel, and resources. 

• Prioritise technology to streamline repairs and reduce costs. 

• Experiment with shared regional services and innovative models. 

Resources Mentioned: 

• Plentific: www.plentific.com