I have recently taken over the role of Housemark Voids Club Manager, and I’m very excited to get started and meet other housing professionals who are interested in improving the speed and efficiency of their voids processes and the quality of homes being relet to new tenants.
I’ve worked in social housing for over 25 years holding senior roles with a number of housing organisations as well as spending three years working as a Housing Inspector with both the Housing Corporation and Audit Commission. I am also a non-exec director on the board of a small housing association in Devon. In all these roles, I have been acutely aware that a housing provider’s efficiency in reletting empty homes is a key performance indicator.
Whether it be speed of reletting empty homes, the number of homes vacant, the amount of rent being lost through voids, or the quality of homes being relet, the issue of void performance is a key metric.
What is Housemark’s Voids Club?
The Voids Club is a great opportunity for housing professionals interested in all aspects of reletting empty homes to come together and exchange ideas and good practice. External speakers from inside and outside the sector are invited to give presentations and answer questions on a variety of subjects. There are also opportunities at each session for discussion about topical issues in voids management.
What makes the Voids Club interesting?
One of the great things about Housemark’s specialist clubs is the opportunity to network with like-minded people, share good practice and learn new ideas and initiatives. Last year some of the exciting subjects we considered were: Performing through a global pandemic, using disruptive technology in voids and allocations, digitising the voids and lettings process and learning from the private sector.
In the year ahead, some of the topics we will be focussing on include: New initiatives in voids management – what does the new normal look like? taking a strategic approach to voids, benchmarking voids performance, how the Charter for Social Housing tenant satisfaction measures might impact voids management and how customer feedback can benefit both customer and landlord.
When does the Club meet?
The Club meets virtually three times a year, which means wherever you are you can attend easily. Our first Club meeting this year is on the 24th March. Each session includes a mix of presentations plus the opportunity to talk to your peers in breakout groups.
You’ll also get access to a Club briefing before each meeting to keep you in the loop with latest articles that are current and topical so you’re always kept up to date with everything voids related.
I look forward to seeing you there!
You can find out more about the Voids Club here. To join the Club before the March meeting contact monika.edwards@housemark.co.uk.