Contract duration: Two to Five years
Contract Commencement: August 2025

• Site inspections of dwelling properties
• Site inspections of communal areas in blocks
• Testing of building materials to determine if asbestos is present and what type of asbestos
• Maintaining accurate and timely records
• Reporting to landlord

Full details >>> Asbestos Specification

Progress of consultation:

Contract duration: Two to Five years
Contract Commencement: May 2025

• Verify existing core stock data from MKCC Housing management system prior commencement of inspection
• Complete property dwelling stock condition surveys using prescribed MKCC format
• Subject to existing EPC age, undertake Energy Performance Assessment
• Provide stock condition data back to MKCC in prescribed data format
• Respond to any queries raised by MKCC following stock condition surveys
• Maintain accurate and up to date records of stock condition completions

Full details >>> Stock Condition Surveys Specification

Progress of consultation:

Contract duration: One to three years
Contract Commencement: July 2025

• Complete Fire Risk Assessments to MKCC properties using prescribed MKCC format/process/service level agreement
• Provide Fire Risk Assessment data back to MKCC in prescribed data format/service level agreement
• Respond to any queries raised by MKCC following a fire risk assessment
• Maintain accurate and up to date records of fire risk assessment completions

Full details >>> Fire Risk Assessment Specification

Progress of consultation:

Contract duration: Two to five years
Contract Commencement: June 2025

• Complete Fire Door Surveys to doors within communal areas of MKCC properties by certified FDIS Inspector
• Complete Fire Door Surveys to all property doors that lead to communal spaces in MKCC blocks and buildings by certified FDIS Inspector
• Complete / install asset tag to door where requested
• Provide asset data of fire doors to MKCC in approved format/process
• Provide compliance report for each door after survey

Full details >>> Fire Door Surveys Specification

Progress of consultation:

Contract duration: Two to five years
Contract Commencement: September 2025

• Complete legionella assessments report in prescribed MKCC format/process
• Supply timely reports to MKCC Assets Teams
• Provide MKCC with professional advice on legionella and water management issues

Full details >>> Legionella Specification

Progress of consultation:

Contract duration: Two to five years
Contract Commencement: September 2025

• Undertake programmed water testing on various sites
• Complete water treatments as necessary after water testing
• Maintain accurate and up to date water testing and works records for MKCC
• Report all issues of water quality concerns to MKCC in a timely and agreed format
• Undertake remedial measures and proactive works to manage legionella risk

Full details >>> Legionella PPM Specification

Progress of consultation:

Contract duration: Two to five years
Contract Commencement: August 2025

• Complete site visits to property dwelling to measure up new installations
• Be the point of contact for residents on replacement doors
• Complete installations as specified
• Provide MKCC with timely installation data, which must include property specific level data
• Provide MKCC with current fire standards certifications for all doors available
• Provide MKCC with professional advice on fire hazards and fire safety in respect of works under this contract

Full details >>> Fire Door Remedial Works Specification

Progress of consultation:

Contract duration: Two to five years
Contract Commencement: September 2025

• Complete works to remedy fire safety issues which have been identified by the completion of a fire risk assessment
• All works as required which may include but are not limited to:-
  • General building works
  • Brickwork, walling and plastering
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing
  • Carpentry and joinery
  • Painting and decorating
  • Cleaning and making good
• Provide MKCC with detailed site works records of woks completed
• Provide MKCC with certifications of works, warranties and competencies as required

Full details >>> FRA Remedial Works Specification

Progress of consultation:

Contract duration: Three years
Contract Commencement: 2025

The contract will cover services that will cost more than £250 per property and will cover the follow areas:

• Reactive and planned investigations
• Structural investigations and reports
• Arboricultural investigations and reports
• Soils investigations and reports
• Architectural services including designs, drawn plans, structural calculations.
• Permits and licencing including planning, building control, party-wall, scaffolding, etc.
• Consultancy on the above and all associated works

Progress of consultation:

Progress of consultation:

Reference: 109 | Received: 28 Nov 2023 | Responded: 6 Dec 2023 Observation: When we have previously asked for an asbestos log/assessment, you have not been able to provide one, are these in place and how do we get a copy? will this be managed better in the future? Reply: Thank you for your comment. Please can you chase this through Mears who should be able to provide you an update.

Reference: 28 | Received: 26 Oct 2023 | Responded: 31 Oct 2023    Observation: KPI's need to include tenant leaseholder satisfaction and complaints. Reply: In 2023 the Regulator for Social Housing has introduced new Tenant Satisfaction Measures that will enable residents to scrutinise MKCC's performance and give us insight about where we can improve. The Tenant Perception Survey captures residents' perspective about multiple aspects of what we do, to include repairs as well as complaints handling. For more information please visit Housing Performance and Data.

Reference: 20 | Received: 25 Oct 2023 | Responded: 27 Oct 2023    Observation: My general observation is that this process seems rather heavy handed. Surely the key issues are 1) quality of service ie will they do a good job in a timely fashion and 2) cost ie are the costs going to be fair and in line/better than previous years.  I assume that due diligence will be done to ensure that the contractor is well qualified but regarding point 2, at this stage, I can’t find reference to whether the costs have been considered. (I see that I can only comment on one contract at a time so I’m going to copy and paste this into each section as my observations are the same for each contract) Reply: Thank you for your observation. Your comments align to the consultations’ four key reasons why we are looking to change the current repairs, maintenance, and investment arrangements, as highlighted in the letter you received.

Reference: 110 | Received: 28 Nov 2023 | Responded: 6 Dec 2023 Observation: I have requested a condition survey on a number of occasions due to large cracks appearing in the building and you have sent a multi skills operative, who took pictures on their phone and we never heard any more. Reply: Thank you for your comment. Please can you chase this through Mears who should be able to provide you an update.

Reference: 21 | Received: 21 Nov 2023 | Responded: 6 Dec 2023 Observation: I’ve had endless surveys done over the last 3-4years on my house. I’ve been complaining about mold, leaking roof, windows, since 2009. I’m sti waiting for someone to do something about a the issues. I’ve been promised a new bathroom FOUR times in the nearly 23 years I’ve lived in my house and I’m still waiting. I was promised new windows and doors in February, I’m still waiting. Mears and MKCC have been repeatedly negligent and I have no choice but to take legal action. Mears have made millions out of MKC/MKCC and yet my house is still in a state of disrepair to the point I’m being charged bedroom tax on a room that I actually have to use because I can’t sleep in my own bedroom because the mold is bad for my asthma. I don’t have any faith in MKCC being any better at maintaining their housing stock themselves, there’s been so much waste and mismanagement that I actually think it will only get worse. So now I assume I’m in a holding pattern where MKCC won’t repair house as everything is in limbo. So instead of it costing a several thousand to maintain and repair my house it’ll now cost tens of thousands in compensation as I’ll also be suing for personal injury, the deterioration in my health has been caused by the mold and I’m fed up of Mears employees walking into my house and sucking air through their teeth and nothing being done. You’ll probably tell me this isn’t the platform or place to complain but it absolutely is. Everyone needs to know what a nightmare it is to be an MKCC tenant in a house that’s falling apart. And don’t get me started on the unfinished kitchen and the sinking floors in the bedrooms! It’s a horror story of a house and it’s literally killing me!  Reply: Thank you for your feedback. Please report any repairs as you normally would so that the contractor can follow up. Your feedback on clarity of what will or will not be done to homes is noted, along with the feedback on MKCC doing repairs and other works versus a contractor.

Reference: 37 | Received: 5 Nov 2023 | Responded: 10 Nov 2023 Observation: What do you mean by 'Stock Condition'? A casual glance? A surveyor's full report? Full set of working drawings? The lack of the last has proved critical recently' especially with regards to technical details of a heating installation being extended. Reply: Thank you for your question. The condition survey will be a full stock condition survey of the property. The survey will be undertaken using a pre-determined format set up in our asset management software. Suppliers will be required to update our asset management system completing set fields. Where we have existing data, this will be reviewed and verified by the surveyor and updated with regard to component install year, replacement year and observations. Any missing components will be collected with the same data noted. Where we have no existing data, data will be collected from scratch. Our survey template covers all main dwelling components. Drawings do not form part of our data collection.

Reference: 20 | Received: 25 Oct 2023 | Responded: 27 Oct 2023 Observation: My general observation is that this process seems rather heavy handed. Surely the key issues are 1) quality of service ie will they do a good job in a timely fashion and 2) cost ie are the costs going to be fair and in line/better than previous years.  I assume that due diligence will be done to ensure that the contractor is well qualified but regarding point 2, at this stage, I can’t find reference to whether the costs have been considered. (I see that I can only comment on one contract at a time so I’m going to copy and paste this into each section as my observations are the same for each contract) Reply: Thank you for your observation. Your comments align to the consultations’ four key reasons why we are looking to change the current repairs, maintenance, and investment arrangements, as highlighted in the letter you received.

Reference: 5 | Received: 18 Oct 2023 | Responded: 27 Oct 2023     Observation: We were written to asking to make access for a housing stock survey. This appointment never happened.  Reply: We are sorry to hear your previous experiences have not met your expectations. For more information in regard to any current repair and maintenance issues please visit Housing Repairs webpage.

Reference: 29 | Received: 26 October 2023 | Responded: 31 October 2023    Observation: Delete ref to Mears. Reply: Thank you for your observation.

Reference: 21 | Received: 25 October 2023 | Responded: 27 October 2023    Observation: My general observation is that this process seems rather heavy handed. Surely the key issues are 1) quality of service ie will they do a good job in a timely fashion and 2) cost ie are the costs going to be fair and in line/better than previous years.  I assume that due diligence will be done to ensure that the contractor is well qualified but regarding point 2, at this stage, I can’t find reference to whether the costs have been considered. (I see that I can only comment on one contract at a time so I’m going to copy and paste this into each section as my observations are the same for each contract) Reply: Thank you for your observation. Your comments align to the consultations’ four key reasons why we are looking to change the current repairs, maintenance, and investment arrangements, as highlighted in the letter you received.

 

Reference: 111 | Received: 28 Nov 2023 | Responded: 6 Dec 2023  Observation: You had someone come round to make notes about what needed to be done in the houses, the staff member spoke about doors/seals needing replacing and then we never had a follow up visit from anyone. will this be better managed in the future? Reply: Thank you for your comment. Please could you follow this up via Mears. We are definitely looking to improve our service.

Reference: 38 | Received: 5 Nov 2023 | Responded: 10 Nov 2023  Observation: You may have to bring this programme forward if recent empirical evidence is substantiated. A door set installed by you a while ago fails to close fully. There are a number of similar sets here. In one separate instance, either by instruction or through improvisation, a new door set had its intumescent strips removed on the basis it would impede exit. No wrong. They are required by regulation and would not do so before any possible escapes from the fire. Both instances may be non-compliant. Reply: Thank you for highlighting this issue. We have forwarded your email to our colleagues who will contact you to discuss this in more detail. For any future issues of a similar nature, please contact our HousingSafetyTeam@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Reference: 22 | Received: 25 Oct 2023 | Responded: 27 Oct 2023    Observation: My general observation is that this process seems rather heavy handed. Surely the key issues are 1) quality of service ie will they do a good job in a timely fashion and 2) cost ie are the costs going to be fair and in line/better than previous years.  I assume that due diligence will be done to ensure that the contractor is well qualified but regarding point 2, at this stage, I can’t find reference to whether the costs have been considered. (I see that I can only comment on one contract at a time so I’m going to copy and paste this into each section as my observations are the same for each contract) Reply: Thank you for your observation. Your comments align to the consultations’ four key reasons why we are looking to change the current repairs, maintenance, and investment arrangements, as highlighted in the letter you received.

 

Reference: 23 | Received: 25 October 2023 | Responded: 27 October 2023    Observation: My general observation is that this process seems rather heavy handed. Surely the key issues are 1) quality of service ie will they do a good job in a timely fashion and 2) cost ie are the costs going to be fair and in line/better than previous years.  I assume that due diligence will be done to ensure that the contractor is well qualified but regarding point 2, at this stage, I can’t find reference to whether the costs have been considered. (I see that I can only comment on one contract at a time so I’m going to copy and paste this into each section as my observations are the same for each contract) Reply: Thank you for your observation. Your comments align to the consultations’ four key reasons why we are looking to change the current repairs, maintenance, and investment arrangements, as highlighted in the letter you received.

 

Reference: 98 | Received: 18 Nov 2023 | Responded: 24 Nov 2023    Observation: An observation I would like to make, I welcome Mears being replaced as repairs, maintenance and improvement work contractors, the standard of work carried out by them is well short of best building practice, I fear that nothing will change under new contractors unless all work is assessed, supervised and signed of by a qualified operative from the council when satisfactorily completed. regards Reply: Thank you for your feedback, we will consider this in setting up the new contract.

Reference: 24 | Received: 25 Oct 2023 | Responded: 27 Oct 2023    Observation: My general observation is that this process seems rather heavy handed. Surely the key issues are 1) quality of service ie will they do a good job in a timely fashion and 2) cost ie are the costs going to be fair and in line/better than previous years.  I assume that due diligence will be done to ensure that the contractor is well qualified but regarding point 2, at this stage, I can’t find reference to whether the costs have been considered. (I see that I can only comment on one contract at a time so I’m going to copy and paste this into each section as my observations are the same for each contract) Reply: Thank you for your observation. Your comments align to the consultations’ four key reasons why we are looking to change the current repairs, maintenance, and investment arrangements, as highlighted in the letter you received.

 

Reference: 25 | Received: 25 October 2023 | Responded: 27 October 2023    Observation: My general observation is that this process seems rather heavy handed. Surely the key issues are 1) quality of service ie will they do a good job in a timely fashion and 2) cost ie are the costs going to be fair and in line/better than previous years.  I assume that due diligence will be done to ensure that the contractor is well qualified but regarding point 2, at this stage, I can’t find reference to whether the costs have been considered. (I see that I can only comment on one contract at a time so I’m going to copy and paste this into each section as my observations are the same for each contract) Reply: Thank you for your observation. Your comments align to the consultations’ four key reasons why we are looking to change the current repairs, maintenance, and investment arrangements, as highlighted in the letter you received.

 

Reference: 26 | Received: 25 October 2023 | Responded: 27 October 2023    Observation: My general observation is that this process seems rather heavy handed. Surely the key issues are 1) quality of service ie will they do a good job in a timely fashion and 2) cost ie are the costs going to be fair and in line/better than previous years.  I assume that due diligence will be done to ensure that the contractor is well qualified but regarding point 2, at this stage, I can’t find reference to whether the costs have been considered. (I see that I can only comment on one contract at a time so I’m going to copy and paste this into each section as my observations are the same for each contract) Reply: Thank you for your observation. Your comments align to the consultations’ four key reasons why we are looking to change the current repairs, maintenance, and investment arrangements, as highlighted in the letter you received.

 

These represent the key themes that emerged in the observations and questions that we have received in response to the Notice of Intent dated 2 October 2024. The Leaseholders had 21 days to contact us with any queries, and this stage of consultation closed on 4 November 2024.

Concerns about Fair Process, Costs and Financial Impact

Number of similar observations: 8 

Question: How will the procurement process ensure that costs are lower than the current provider, what safeguards are in place to prevent monopolistic pricing, and what are the estimated costs for leaseholders, especially those on limited incomes?

Our response: Our current contract with the repairs and maintenance contractor is ending, and we will procure the services listed in the consultation letter directly in the future to ensure value for money. The tender process will begin after the consultation period, and it will be based on both price and quality assessments. Costs will only be incurred for properties where these services are provided. 

We have not issued the tender at this stage, this will take place following consultation period.  As part of Section 20 consultation, we have to make all leaseholders aware of the procurement in case anyone wants to propose a company/contractor to tender for the works. The tender will be issued on a price and quality assessment basis. Costs will only be incurred for the properties where these services are provided in the future.

Requests for More Information and Clarification

Number of similar observations: 6

Question: Can you provide detailed information about the specific works mentioned in the recent letters and clarify the status of current and future repairs?

Our response: The services being procured are listed in the letter. The procurement is for surveys and not for remedial works. All remedial works and general repairs are currently being carried out by our Repairs & Maintenance contractor Mears Plc.

The consultation is about specific future services as listed in the letter.

For more details on Qualified Long Term Agreements visit.

Concerns about Contractor Selection and Accountability

Number of similar observations: 2

Question: What criteria will be used to select the contractor, and how will their performance and accountability be ensured?

Our response: The purpose of this consultation is to inform leaseholders about our intent to procure these services differently than in the past. We will not go to the market until the consultation concludes and we have considered all observations.

Currently, these services are provided through our main repairs and maintenance contract, which is ending. We are in the process of procuring a new contractor for repairs and maintenance. To ensure value for money, we plan to procure the services outlined in the consultation directly and separately from the main contractor.

There are no specific planned works being consulted on at this time. This consultation is to inform you that we will be appointing a new contractor to maintain continuity of these services. This will only affect you once a contractor is in place and if work is carried out on your property that requires these services. Any specific works would be subject to further leasehold consultation regarding any proposed costs that would affect you.

Requests to Delay or Exclude from Processes

Number of similar observations: 2

Question: Can certain notices or requests be put on hold due to ongoing discussions?

Our response: This consultation is for a new contract for the services listed in the letter and will not affect your current discussions with the Council.