FAQs
Frequently asked questions about housing operations consultancy and software
Straight answers on how we work, what our consultancy covers, and how our platforms sit alongside the systems you already run.
These are the questions housing teams ask us most often, grouped by how we work, what our consultancy covers and what our platforms do. If the answer you need is not here, ask us directly and we will come back to you with a straight answer.
Working with us
Who do you work with?
We work with housing associations, local authorities, managing agents and build-to-rent operators across England, Scotland and Wales. Engagements usually begin with a single team, such as service charges, asset management or customer services, and widen once the first results are proven. We also support leasehold teams working through complex service charge queries.
How does an engagement usually start?
With a scoping conversation. We spend an hour understanding what is not working, who it affects and what a good outcome looks like, then send a short written proposal. Most clients begin with a two to four week diagnostic that produces a findings report, a prioritised action plan and a costed view of the change required. You can act on that plan yourselves or ask us to deliver it with you.
How quickly will we see something change?
Process improvements usually show within the first quarter: fewer manual steps, faster responses to service charge queries and cleaner data. Platform implementations are phased over eight to sixteen weeks, depending on how many schemes are involved and how much historic information needs migrating.
Do you replace our housing management system?
No. We are deliberately systems-agnostic. Our platforms sit alongside your housing management system, finance ledger and document store, taking on the work those systems handle badly: assurance trails, service charge transparency and planned maintenance evidence. Where an integration is the better answer, we build one.
Our consultancy
What does your consultancy actually cover?
Operational and process consultancy for housing providers: service charge assurance, process improvement, data quality, board and committee reporting, and the evidence you need ahead of regulatory or audit scrutiny. Every engagement is built around a measurable outcome rather than a document that sits on a shelf.
Can you help us answer leaseholder and resident queries faster?
Yes. A large share of leaseholder frustration comes from not being able to see how a charge was built. We map how charges are calculated and communicated, then put the evidence and the explanations where teams can reach them. The result is fewer escalations, shorter response times and a consistent answer every time a query is raised.
How do you measure whether it worked?
We agree the measures before the work starts, usually a small set of numbers your own teams already track: query turnaround times, rework and credit notes, the proportion of charges with complete supporting evidence, and the time spent assembling board reports. You keep those numbers after we leave, so improvement is visible without us in the room.
Our platforms
Which platforms do you offer?
Three. The Housing Assurance Platform brings assurance activity, evidence and reporting into one place. Service Charge Central gives leasehold teams a transparent, auditable view of how charges are built and communicated. Planned Maintenance, currently in early access, turns planned works programmes into a defensible, up-to-date record.
Can a platform be used on its own, without consultancy?
Yes. Some clients arrive knowing exactly what they need and license a platform on its own. Others start with consultancy because the underlying process needs fixing first, then adopt the platform to hold the improvement in place. We will tell you plainly which of the two fits your situation.
Is our data safe with you?
Before any resident or leaseholder data is shared we agree a data processing agreement and confirm the minimum data needed for the work. Access is role-based, activity is logged, and data can be exported at any point. We do not sell or reuse client data.
What do your platforms cost?
Pricing is based on the number of homes, schemes and modules you need, so we quote per organisation rather than publishing a list price. A written quote follows the scoping conversation, along with a phased plan you can start small and build on.
Still have a question?
Tell us what you are trying to change and we will tell you honestly whether we can help.
Book a consultation