Having surveyed in excess of 4,500 structures reported to be suffering from damp, condensation, mould or heat-related issues, Cornerstone Management Services Limited are keen to share its findings
An immediate answer to why we continue to witness damp, condensation and mould in a host of buildings throughout the UK is the absence of knowledge.
Evidence shows the enduring annual issues are due to an inconsistent approach to surveying, resolving and managing the problems.
There is no formal correlation across industry expertise when assessing and delivering ‘improvements’ in our buildings and, with no uniform impact assessment for installed elements and their optimum support measures, we continue to run the risk of repeat problems due to a lack of understanding.
The absence of ‘guidance’ to those living, working or learning in a variety of building styles designed to maintain a healthy internal environment, has led to repeat problems due to a lack of knowledge and awareness for using everyday installations alongside a recognition of their atmospheric contribution.
Changing from a reactive process to a proactive process
Following the sad passing of Awaab Ishak, the Housing Ombudsman called for a uniform framework to aid dealing with these annual problems in the social housing sector.
Such a framework would uphold combining all expert trades and stakeholders targeted at delivering consistent expert installations alongside guidance for their location, use and impact.
Cornerstone’s experience indicates this is not always embraced in a constant reliable process and, in the absence of guidance and knowledge they remain todays causes of the problems in all buildings.
Their data is being utilised by major organisations involved with defining how to improve the health of buildings in the UK based upon current trends both physical and atmospheric.
There are a host of Acts, Guidelines and Regulations for upholding healthy homes and buildings however, it is the opinion of Cornerstone, there remains a key mechanism for combining all parties including:
- Occupants: With recognisable ‘did you know’ guidance
- Surveyors: With uniform data capture alongside their full understanding as a collective
- Remediators: With providing guidance for using devices but also their support aspects for optimum performance
A key contributor would be uniform training across all trades and stakeholders designed to impart consistent information over and above their specified skills.
In the absence of smart knowledge delivering simplistic, recognisable and credible reasoning behind many everyday activities in all buildings, their opinion is the reported problems will continue and, likely increase with future warming, insulating and sealing of our buildings in support of reducing carbon emissions and the net zero journey.
Cornerstone’s evidence-based knowledge suggests we are not ready for these designated improvements based on their witnessed repeat problems, the remedial works currently being undertaken and unstructured advice provided to occupants.
Any mandatory framework would need to address reactive:
- Competency
- Inconsistency
- Record keeping
- Timely responses
- Communications
It would also need to deliver proactive guidance measures in a uniform recognisable format for timely resolutions.
A framework dedicated to property health
When a complaint has been made, Cornerstone recognise we are now in a reactive process and, mould being a symptomatic problem with more than one root cause, a ready-to-use process for occupants can deliver a raft of recognisable guidance measures, aid immediate intervention and also aid expert trade guidance remediations with uniform understanding.
Cornerstone are sharing their fact-based knowledge in a free to use Property Health App delivering proactive understandings of recognised symptoms, contributory elements plus how to deal with the visual problems prior to any form of escalation. An embedded assistance mechanism is available – when you need it.
Immediate feedback for this unique opportunity includes:
- “This is a very easy-to-use app especially for a non-specialist”
- “Using it encouraged us to insect the whole building”
- “A case number is useful for referring back to a specific report”
- “When mould was noted, the app enabled us to upload images that guided us through questions and visual prompts”
- “The assessment was instant”
- “I immediately saw how this tool could support our day-to-day responsibilities with managing a busy school environment”
- “The report gave a summary of problems along with why it may have occurred”
- “I would definitely recommend the Property Health App for homes as well as other public buildings”
- “All information is free with three levels of paid premium upgrade options if you need an expert”
Cornerstone see this a new opportunity to review their knowledge with those occupying, surveying, remediating and managing buildings across the UK with a defined goal being the introduction of a unique Property Health Framework.
Cornerstone are one integral mechanism for such a framework and, welcome dialogue with all interested parties to define such a platform.
Contact them now to learn more of their evidence-based data, credible image library of witnessed ‘improvements’ and discuss how you can all aid changing the health of our buildings – for the long term.
Additional guidance offerings include:
- CPD-accredited training for damp, mould and ventilation adequacy
- Independent expert surveys with detailed reports and guidance recommendations
- MOT-style surveys with certified outcomes and advisories
- Fire and flood restoration
