Stock condition surveys coming soon

Keeping you safe and warm in your home is a top priority for us. If you have an assured or fixed term tenancy, we have a legal duty to check your home regularly.

Sovereign Network Group is embarking on a large scale review of the condition of homes. Over the coming weeks, you may receive a letter advising you that one of our Stock Condition Surveyors will be visiting your home to carry out a survey.

All of our Surveyors will carry a letter of authorisation from Sovereign Network Group, confirming that they have been instructed to carry out the survey. This letter will inform you what company will be carrying out the survey and will include a Frequently Asked Question sheet.

What is a Stock Condition Survey*?

We’ll be surveying components in your home such as kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors and external elements such as roofs and guttering. This is so we can ensure we know which homes need maintenance work and/or improvements, and include them in our future plans. The stock condition survey is separate to our usual safety programme such as gas safety checks, fire risk assessments and electrical testing.

For you, the customer, it’s extremely beneficial, as it’ll give you peace of mind, knowing your home is well maintained and safe. Without the survey, you could miss out on important repairs and improvements to your home.

During the visit, which takes less than an hour, your friendly surveyor will view all rooms, both inside and outside of your home. They may also take photographs. You don’t need to do anything to prepare for the visit, or remove any furniture, just be home and open the door!

We understand these surveys may feel intrusive but rest assured, we’re not checking how tidy your home is, we’re just making sure it meets health and safety standards and is in a good state of repair.

What did other customers have to say?

Our surveyors are committed to fair equality standards. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from previous residents’ survey experiences, don’t just take our word for it, here’s what they had to say:

• “The surveyor was professional and had a good look round my home.”
• “The surveyor listened to my concerns about them visiting my home, but they put me at ease and turned up when they said they would.”
• “The surveyor identified an issue with my staircase that I hadn’t even noticed. They reported it back to the Property Team who then made an appointment to fix it.”

What do you need to do?

• Look out for your letter, with the date and time our surveyors are in your area carrying out surveys.
• Continue to report any repairs in the usual way by contacting customer services.

*Our Stock Condition Surveys comply with the Government’s ‘Decent Home Standard’ and one is required as part of your tenancy agreement. Homes are programmed to be surveyed every five years. Homes in the same area may be surveyed at different times.