Islington Council is set to accelerate its stock condition survey programme, a move that will speed up the assessment of the borough's homes and the issuance of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). The decision was made by the Council's Executive on Thursday, 25 June 2026, approving a contract variation to support and enhance the delivery of the programme.
Councillor Jason Jackson, Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, presented the report, highlighting the importance of having accurate and up-to-date information about the housing stock. This data is fundamental to good asset management, enabling early identification of issues, prioritisation of investment, and improved energy efficiency planning.
The variation, valued at £871,087, will bring the estimated total contract value to £2,941,865.60. This acceleration is partly in response to feedback from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) regarding the quality and completeness of stock data.
The RSH had previously issued a C3 judgement, citing weaknesses in assurance due to low levels of survey data. Specifically, the regulator highlighted serious weakness in relation to a lack of assurance in our stock condition data because of low levels of survey data being available at the point of inspection.
The regulator also emphasised the importance of the prompt completion of the stock condition survey process as part of their judgement. Accelerating the stock condition survey programme demonstrates a proactive commitment to stronger governance and better compliance.
The enhanced programme aims to complete the initial stage by May 2027, with a mop-up period extending to August 2027 for properties that have been difficult to access. This accelerated timeline will provide earlier assurance of the quality and safety of the council's homes and inform investment planning to ensure all homes meet the Decent Homes Standard by December 2028.
Additionally, the contract variation will increase capacity to deliver more Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for council homes. As of 24 April, 18,148 EPCs out of 25,587 homes remain to be completed. The increased capacity will support a higher delivery of EPCs, which is crucial for meeting legal requirements for new tenancies and sales, and for preparing for forthcoming government energy standards for social housing.
The proposal also includes funding for configuring and refining the NEC Asset Module, a new IT system designed to replace the outdated SAM system. This enhancement is vital for integrating stock condition data and ensuring robust asset management.
