Keeping homes safe and well maintained

We are committed to making sure our homes are safe, comfortable and well maintained. We do this through regular inspections, planned investment programmes and by meeting national housing standards. This helps us protect residents’ health, safety and wellbeing, and ensures homes remain good quality places to live. For our rented properties English Rural are responsible for complying with the following standards.

Electrical Safety Inspections

We carry out electrical safety inspections every 5 years to make sure electrical installations in our homes are safe and in good working order.

• Electrical inspections are completed by qualified and competent electricians.
• Inspections check wiring, sockets, switches, fuse boards and fixed electrical equipment.
• Any issues identified are repaired or made safe within appropriate timescales.
• Residents receive confirmation once an inspection has been completed.

These inspections help reduce the risk of electrical faults, shocks and fires, keeping residents safe in their homes.

Gas Safety Inspections

Where a property has a gas supply, we carry out annual gas safety inspections as required by law.

• All gas appliances, pipework and flues are checked every year.
• Inspections are completed by Gas Safe registered engineers.
• A gas safety certificate is provided following each inspection.
• Any unsafe appliances are repaired or replaced, or isolated if necessary.

Annual gas safety checks are essential to prevent gas leaks, fires and carbon monoxide risks.

Other Heating Systems

Some of our homes use heating systems that do not rely on mains gas. We are committed to ensuring all heating systems are safe, efficient and well maintained, and we carry out regular inspections and servicing to support this.

We carry out annual safety checks and servicing on all non‑gas heating systems, including electric boilers, oil, solid fuel and heat pump systems.

These checks help to:

• Ensure systems are operating safely
• Maintain reliable heating and hot water
• Identify faults or deterioration at an early stage
• Support energy efficiency and system performance

Where issues are identified, we will arrange repairs, servicing or further investigation within appropriate timescales.

Stock Condition Surveys

Rolling 5‑Year Programme

We carry out stock condition surveys on a rolling five‑year programme to understand the condition of our homes and plan future investment.

• Surveys assess key building elements such as roofs, windows, kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems and external structures.
• The information collected helps us plan repairs, replacements and major works.
• This approach allows us to prioritise spending and maintain homes to a good standard over the long term.
• Residents may be contacted to arrange access when their home is due for a survey.

Regular surveys help us keep homes safe, energy‑efficient and well maintained.

Fit for Human Habitation

All our homes are required to be fit for human habitation.

This means homes must be:

• Safe and structurally sound
• Free from serious hazards
• Adequately heated, ventilated and lit
• Supplied with hot and cold water, sanitation and fixtures for cooking facilities

If a home does not meet these requirements, we will take action to address the issue and make the property safe and suitable to live in.

Decent Homes Standard

We work to ensure our homes meet the Decent Homes Standard.

A decent home is one that:

• Meets the current statutory minimum standard for housing
• Is in a reasonable state of repair
• Has reasonably modern facilities and services
• Provides a reasonable level of thermal comfort

We use planned maintenance programmes, regular inspections and resident feedback to help us achieve and maintain this standard across our homes.

What do I need to do as a resident?

We ask residents to:

• Allow access for safety inspections and surveys
• Report repairs or concerns as soon as possible
• Let us know if there are changes to access needs or vulnerabilities

Working together helps us keep homes safe for everyone.

What should I do if I have a concern about my home?

If you’re worried about safety, repairs or the condition of your home, please contact us as soon as possible. We will assess the issue and let you know what will happen next.