Hackney Council has awarded a £2.2 million contract for domestic electrical testing and inspections, a move designed to tackle a significant backlog of essential safety checks in residents' homes. The contract, approved by the Hackney Procurement Board on Tuesday 26 May 2026, aims to clear an estimated 15,000 outstanding inspections within the next two years.

The new contract with Supplier A will run for an initial period of one year, with an option to extend for a further year, totalling two years. This initiative is a direct response to a commitment made to the Housing Regulator to clear the backlog of electrical inspections within this timeframe.

Historically, these tests were carried out by the council's Direct Labour Organisation (DLO), which currently completes around 1,300 tests annually. This capacity is insufficient to address the growing backlog. The plan is to increase the DLO's testing capacity to 7,000 tests per year, with an additional 11,000 tests to be outsourced. This contract will cover 5,000 of those outsourced tests, with a further external contract to be procured for the remaining tests. The council will ensure the quality of these outsourced tests through a separate tender process for the remaining work and by monitoring Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Supplier A was selected following a mini-competition on the Fusion 21 - Heating, Renewables and Electricals Framework. The evaluation criteria prioritised quality (35%), social value (15%), and commercial offer (50%). Supplier A emerged as the highest-scoring bidder, demonstrating strong proposals in quality and social value, alongside the most competitive commercial offer.

The contract includes specific social value benefits. Beyond hiring local operatives and mentoring young people, Supplier A committed to donating time and equipment to local community initiatives. This includes offering two volunteer days for activities such as communal garden maintenance and litter collection, and donating decommissioned laptops and iPads worth approximately £2,500 to care homes, sheltered housing, and children in hospitals. They also committed to delivering two employability sessions for residents, focusing on CV writing, interview skills, and career guidance, and offering short workplace visits for small groups of residents. All contractors are also required to pay the London Living Wage.

Sustainability measures are integrated into the contract, focusing on minimising environmental impact. Supplier A must follow operational sustainability procedures, including on waste management and efficient vehicles during general operations, which encompass transportation between properties and the execution of quality control inspections. They are also required to report waste figures and minimise packaging. The contract also includes a KPI for 'Post inspection pass rate reducing return visits which will reduce wasted vehicle miles'.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be monitored throughout the contract to ensure quality and delivery. These include:

  • KPI 1 - Customer Satisfaction – overall
  • KPI 2 - Client Handover Pass Rate
  • KPI 3 - Recalls to Works Defects in the Defects Annually Liability Period
  • KPI 4 - Safety - Client Health and Safety Inspections (target: 'Green' rating, meaning performance at or above the Target Standard)
  • KPI 5 - Predictability Cost
  • KPI 6 - Time – Periodic Servicing and Inspections Completed In Time
  • KPI 7 - Safety – Provider's accident rate
  • KPI 8 - Social Value
  • KPI 9 - ITT Commitment - Certification & Reporting

The Electrical Contract Manager will oversee the contract management. Further details on the procurement board's decisions can be found in the Decisions Tuesday 26 May 2026 14.00 Hackney Procurement Board document.