Advertise on podcast: Ask the Experts by Pennington Choices

With increased scrutiny from the Regulator of Social Housing during regulatory inspections, how organisations record, manage, and maintain their data is more important than ever. Having accurate and up-to-date data is crucial across all areas from Awaab’s Law and stock condition to building safety and compliance. In this podcast episode, our experts explore how housing providers can ensure their data is robust, gain assurance over the information they hold, and maintain a clear evidence trail.

Following the influx of questions we received during our recent webinar, ‘Awaab’s Law Phase 2: What to expect’, Jordan Brown, Head of Consultancy, Ben Davidson, Head of Survey Services, and Stewart Kerr, Principal Consultant, have compiled and answered the remining questions from the session. Their expert answers cover topics including whether there is a one-size-fits-all approach to navigating Awaab’s Law Phase 2, how parameters will work around excess cold and heat, and how to make significant hazards safe within the required timescales.

Sarah Davies, Professional Services Director, Jordan Brown, Head of Consultancy, and Lisa Driscoll, Principal Consultant, sit down to discuss the significance of the Competence and Conduct Standard sitting outside the Consumer Standards, how we’re seeing Awaab’s Law Phases 1 and 2 being misinterpreted by organisations, and the importance of transparency ahead of the upcoming Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs).

In this episode, Stewart Kerr, Principal Consultant, and Neil Richards, Senior Consultant, break down the key changes introduced by the Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026, which came into force on 27th April 2026, including new requirements for higher-risk buildings and the role of the Building Safety Authority as the building control authority for different building categories.

In this podcast episode, Professional Services Director, Sarah Davies, Head of Consultancy, Jordan Brown, and Head of Knowledge and Insight, Letrice Thomas, break down the latest developments shaping the social housing sector today. From Awaab’s Law Phase 2 and the Building Safety (Wales) Act to the Competence and Conduct Standard and the Regulator of Social Housing’s latest Regulatory Casework Review, they explore what these changes mean for housing providers and why demonstrating compliance, maintaining accurate asset data, and preparing early are essential.

Stewart Kerr, Principal Consultant, and Neil Richards, Senior Consultant, share expert insights into preparing a robust building safety case report that stands up to the Building Safety Regulator’s scrutiny. This episode covers the importance of a safety management system and resident engagement system as part of your building safety case report, how often safety case reports need to be updated, and how the sector has responded to the BSR no longer being part of the HSE.

Jordan Brown, Head of Consultancy, and Andrew Best, Account Manager, sat down to answer your questions from our recent ‘Awaab’s Law: 6 Months On’ webinar. Tune in to hear the expert answers to your questions, including how organisations are preparing for the next phases of Awaab’s Law, devising resources seasonally to prepare for the colder months, and the key risks observed so far in meeting the timeframes.

Jordan Brown, Head of Consultancy, and Jack Ashton, Principal Consultant, discuss how good organisations have adapted to phase 1 of Awaab’s Law, best practices for preparing now for phase 2 coming into force later this year, and the benefits of treating this as a fundamental shift in how your organisation approaches damp and mould.

Collaborating with Halliday Meecham Architects, our project management and building safety experts break down the legal requirements for passing through the gateway process, covering competency, construction control, and change control, and outline the misconceptions that are preventing organisations from creating successful gateway submissions.

From smartphones to e-scooters, lithium-ion batteries are posing an increasing fire safety risk. In this episode, our Head of Fire Safety, Josh Alderson, and Fire Operations Manager, Christopher Cotterill, discuss the dangers of common household electronics with lithium-ion batteries. Discover mitigations strategies to limit fire spread during an incident and how often landlords should realistically assess buildings for battery-powered devices.

Following the Government’s January 2026 consultation response, Jordan Brown, Head of Consultancy - Assets & Compliance, and Ben Davidson, Head of Survey Services, break down the revised Decent Homes Standard. They explore what the changes to each criterion will mean for your organisation, how to update your approach in alignment with the new standards, and when compliance is expected from.

As 2025 comes to a close, our experts sat down to discuss what this past year has looked like for the sector, from the implementation of Awaab’s Law to the Building Safety Regulator awarding Building Assessment Certificates to higher-risk buildings across the country. Discover our experts’ biggest achievements, best pieces of advice, and insights on regulatory developments from 2025.

Awaab’s Law is now officially in force, introducing time frames to address damp and mould hazards and emergency hazards within. In this episode, our Professional Services Director, Sarah Davies, and Head of Consultancy – Assets and Compliance, Jordan Brown, explore what the new requirements mean for you, what good organisations are doing now to maintain compliance, and how you should be adapting your damp, mould, and condensation processes, procedures, and practices.

The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025: Residential PEEPs and Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments   As of 6th April 2026, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 will come into force, brining new responsibilities for you to ensure the safe evacuation of vulnerable residents in the event of a fire. In this episode our experts, Stewart Kerr and Letrice Thomas, highlight the importance of working with the fire and rescue service, GDPR and consent, and ensuring consistent processes across the board.

In this episode, our Head of Knowledge and Insight, Letrice Thomas, and Principal Consultant, Stewart Kerr, explore the latest updates to the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: fire door guidance, which aims to provide clarity on the scope and purpose of the regulations. Our experts discuss your responsibilities for carrying out visual fire door checks, how to respect resident privacy, and the importance of maintaining effective fire compartmentation.