The role of a roof system in improving social housing

Social housing is in the spotlight, with new regulations and standards set to significantly increase the accountability of landlords when it comes to the condition and performance of the properties they have responsibility for.

Here Stuart Nicholson, roof systems director at Marley, discusses how whole roof systems could be one way to reduce their supply chain risk and improve roof specification effectiveness. 

Several initiatives, including the Government’s Social Housing White Paper and the Building Safety Bill, are set to place increased scrutiny on the safety and quality of social housing construction and maintenance. These changes will make landlords far more accountable for their properties in the eyes of the law. 

One important area that will be impacted, as part of the new measures, is the roof system.  As a vital element in efforts to ensure a property is up to the standards required, badly specified or poorly performing roof systems can lead to ongoing and costly problems such as leaks, condensation and even tiles falling off. The new protections being given to social housing tenants mean that such issues will need to be attended to without delay. 

In essence, the new regulations mean that social landlords need to take greater control and be accountable for the whole roof system. Rather than specifying the roof tiles and leaving the rest of the roofing elements (such as battens and dry fix systems) to contractor choice, sourcing the whole roof system from a single supplier is the best way to reduce risk and ensure the entire roof will deliver on expectations and performance.    

By only having to deal with one source, social housing specifiers and landlords can be confident that any problems can be rectified quickly. In addition, they will also be assured that all the roofing systems provided under their control will be high quality, compatible and compliant with the latest British Standards. 

In addition, Marley’s roof system comes with the reassurance of a 15-year guarantee. This provides social landlords, and their tenants, with the peace of mind that they will not suffer from the consequences of common roof-related problems such as leaks, as well as protection against potential roof damage from storms. The resulting reduction in ongoing roof maintenance and lower repair bills are significant benefits from adopting a whole roof system single source strategy. 

And, with the need to deliver sustainable solutions for the future health of housing stock, social landlords can also seek to incorporate the latest solar panel solutions, such as Marley’s SolarTile®, as part of a full roof system. Easy to install and proven to cut energy bills, solar PV can make a significant contribution towards Part L carbon reduction targets. It is also now included as an eligible measure for Green Homes Grant funding under the Local Authority Delivery part of the scheme.