Haringey is preparing for new Heat Network regulations set to come into force in 2025, which aim to ensure fairer pricing, clearer billing, and improved service standards for residents. These regulations will be heavily regulated under a Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS).
The Haringey Council has extended its current gas maintenance contracts to align with these upcoming regulations and facilitate the procurement of new heating contracts. At a Cabinet Member Signing meeting on Monday 15 September 2025, Councillor Sarah Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader), approved the extension of contracts with Purdy Contracts Ltd and Sureserve Compliance Services Ltd for an additional six months, pushing the expiry date to 31 March 2026.
The decision was made to allow sufficient time for the full procurement of three new heating contracts, consisting of two domestic lots and one commercial/communal lot. According to the Public Reports Pack, the commercial/communal heating contract needs to address newer technologies like renewable energy and district energy networks. These renewable energy technologies being considered are ground source and air source heat pumps.
The extension will cost £1,305,000 for Purdy Contracts Limited and £1,220,000 for Sureserve Compliance Services Ltd. Funding will be drawn from the 2025-2026 capital and revenue budgets already allocated for gas servicing, repairs, and replacements.
The council considered alternative options, including a full procurement exercise and in-house delivery, but these were deemed unviable. A full procurement exercise was underway but would not be completed before 1st October, which would mean that there would be no service provision for gas & heating repairs, maintenance & renewals. In-house delivery had been previously investigated but was not considered viable due to the lack of skill sets within the housing repair service to repair and maintain the various types of heating systems currently managed. The Public Reports Pack stated that doing nothing was not an option due to the council's statutory health and safety obligations. The extension ensures continuity of gas and heating repairs, maintenance, and renewals, and adherence to regulation 36 of the Gas Safe Regulations 1998, keeping residents safe.
According to the Public Reports Pack, this initiative contributes to the 'Homes for the future' theme of the Corporate Delivery Plan 2024-2026, aiming to improve the quality of social housing and landlord services, ensuring everyone has a safe, sustainable, stable, and affordable home.