Sectors · Social housing

Building safety for housing associations & local authorities.

FRAEWs to PAS 9980:2026, portfolio programmes and wider building safety surveys for registered providers and councils, delivered by one in-house team.

Portfolios of 50+Homes England approvedCHAS Elite accredited

In short: we help housing associations, registered providers and local authorities understand and manage the external wall risk across their stock. That ranges from a single FRAEW to a programme across 50+ buildings, with fire door, compartmentation and safety case support alongside.

The challenges we help with

Mixed, ageing stock. Blocks built across several decades, often over-clad or refurbished since, with incomplete records of what the walls are made of.
Fire risk assessments that cannot conclude. Where the assessor cannot judge the external walls and recommends a FRAEW.
Prioritising limited budgets. Deciding which buildings to appraise first, and which may be low enough risk not to need a full FRAEW.
Funding. Cladding Safety Scheme and Building Safety Fund applications for eligible buildings.
Higher-risk buildings. Safety case reports and the evidence the Building Safety Regulator expects.
Occupied homes. Carrying out inspections and opening-up with as little disruption to residents as possible.

How we help

Portfolio FRAEW programmesRisk-ranked triage and phased FRAEWs across 50+ buildings, with a portfolio register. FRAEWs and EWS1 formsDirector-led appraisals to PAS 9980:2026 for individual buildings. Intrusive investigationsOpening-up by our own team to confirm insulation, cavity barriers and fixings. Fire door surveysFlat entrance and communal fire doors. Compartmentation surveysFire-stopping, cavity barriers and compartmentation. Safety case reportsFor higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act. Remediation & project managementScope, specification, tender and site quality assurance. Façade condition surveysCondition, defects and planned maintenance for the building envelope.

Working in occupied homes

Most of the buildings we appraise for housing providers are occupied. We plan access and opening-up around residents, keep each opening small and targeted, and our own contracting team makes good as it goes. Because the access equipment and the openings are handled by the same team that carries out the appraisal, there are fewer visits and no hand-offs between contractors.

Procurement and reporting

We can be appointed directly or through a framework or other procurement route, and we are CHAS Elite accredited. On a programme, every FRAEW follows the same structure and rating approach, and we provide a register of every building's rating, actions and priority for board and regulatory reporting. We have the capacity to undertake portfolios of 50+ properties, and we typically respond to enquiries within one working day.

Relevant experience

The Quarter, ChesterSeven connected blocks and four wall types opened up in a three-day survey. West Plaza, West BromwichA 45 m 1960s tower, its original façade found behind later cladding. Avalon House, PortsmouthA 1970s block with no records, every wall proven by opening up. One Vesta Street, ManchesterA 169-flat higher-risk building: Low risk, no remediation.

Frequently asked questions

Can you appraise our whole stock?

Yes. We have the capacity to undertake portfolios of 50+ properties. We start with a desktop triage of every building, then phase the FRAEWs so the highest-priority buildings are inspected first.

Do you work through frameworks?

We can be appointed directly or through a framework or other procurement route. We are CHAS Elite accredited and Homes England approved Cladding Safety Scheme assessors.

Can you support Cladding Safety Scheme applications?

Yes. As Homes England approved assessors we provide the FRAEW information the scheme needs for eligible buildings, and we can support remediation where works follow.

Do you also carry out fire door and compartmentation surveys?

Yes. We carry out fire door surveys, compartmentation surveys and safety case reports alongside FRAEWs, so one team can cover the building safety picture for each block.

How do you keep disruption to residents down?

Access and openings are planned around residents, openings are small and targeted, and our own contracting team makes good as it goes, so there are fewer visits and no hand-offs between contractors.

Planning building safety work across your stock?

Tell us about your buildings and we will suggest a proportionate programme. We typically respond within one working day.

0800 048 5229 enquiries@mtconsult.co.uk See our case studies