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Listen to the latest episodes below or find us on your favourite podcast platform!
About Ask the Experts Podcast
Join us on Ask the Experts, a podcast from Pennington Choices to investigate issues around compliance and safety within buildings. Hosted by a team of in-house experts and featuring industry specialists, each episode delves deep into the issues you face across the UK property landscape.
The Importance of a Data-Driven Retrofit Approach | Ask the Experts Podcast
Greg Davies, Managing Director of Pennington Choices, shares his insights into the vital role of accurate data in retrofit projects. This episode highlights how data-driven decisions boost project performance and energy efficiency, covering key steps for aligning with government standards and the impact of real-time data. Whether you're a landlord, building manager, or keen to create more sustainable housing, Greg offers valuable insights to guide your retrofit strategy. Listen now to discover how a data-focused approach can elevate your project’s success.
What is Retrofit? Understanding the Basics | Ask the Experts Podcast
In this episode, we talk with Sarah Davies, Professional Services Director at Pennington Choices, about the fundamentals of retrofit projects to improve energy efficiency and tenant comfort. Sarah shares key insights on aligning retrofit projects with Energy Performance Certificates, steps to achieve the EPC band C by 2030 target, and the roles of Retrofit Coordinators and Assessors under PAS 2035. Tune in to learn more!
Addressing Damp, Mould, and Disrepair | Ask the Experts Podcast
As winter approaches, damp and mould issues can become a bigger threat to your tenant's homes and health. In this episode, we chat with our Project Manager, Luke Oldfield, to discuss how you should be preparing year-round for the colder months, how to detect early signs, and what preventative steps landlords and building managers should take to ensure their properties are free of damp and mould. Learn practical tips to protect your property, avoid costly repairs, and keep your home safe and compliant this winter.
Meet The Experts: Head of IT Ben Morris
For the latest episode of Meet The Experts, we sit down with our Head of IT, Ben Morris. In this episode, we discuss Ben's career so far, why he decided to pursue a career within the IT sector, how he stays up-to-date with the latest changes in the industry, what he has implemented and what he plans to achieve at Pennington Choices, the benefit of being award Cyber Essentials Plus, and much more.
Stock Condition: Meeting the Safety and Quality Standard
Join us for part of our "Stock Condition: Meet the Safety and Quality Standard" as our Principal Consultant Lisa Driscoll goes in depth into the Safety and Quality Standard.
To watch the full webinar, you can watch on on-demand up here.
Best Practices and Real World Examples of Damp & Mould
Taken from our July webinar "Preparing for Change: HHSRS, Damp, Mould and Condensation". In this snippet our Project Manager, Luke Oldfield, discusses best practices for landlords and gives some real world examples of damp & mould.
To watch the full webinar, you can sign up here: On demand webinar
Meet The Experts: Principal Consultant Lisa Driscoll
In this episode we sit down with our new Principal Consultant, Lisa Driscoll. Lisa has a wealth of experience within social housing, having joined us from the Regulator of Social Housing where she was involved in the Consumer Standards.
We discuss her time at the Regulator of Social Housing, why she decided to pursue a career within policy, what makes for good policy, advice for landlords based on the new Consumer Standards, and more!
Consumer Regulation: Insights from the Regulator of Social Housing
Taken from our June webinar "New Consumer Regulation Regime: Insights and updates" where we were joined by Jessica Guandalini, Assistant Director of Regulatory Engagement at the Regulator for Social Housing.
Meet the Experts: Survey Services Director Gary Bampton
In this episode of our Meet The Experts series where we sat down with Survey Services Director, Gary Bampton.
Gary has been at Pennington Choices for over 23 years, and gives his insights behind what he thinks has made the business so successful, why he has stayed at the company his entire career, how he found jumping into his first managerial role, and the one piece of advice he would give to his younger self.
What is Fire Compartmentation?
In this weeks episode of Ask The Experts, our Head of Fire Safety Josh Alderson breaks down what fire compartmentation is as part of our May webinar "Fire Safety: Building Height, Compartmentation, and FRAEWs" which can be watched on-demand here.
HHSRS: Safeguarding homes in England and Wales
In this episode, we delve into the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), a critical framework designed to ensure safe and healthy living conditions in England and Wales. Join us as we uncover the 29 hazards outlined within HHSRS, exploring everything from damp and mould to electrical hazards and structural instability. Learn about the fundamental principles of HHSRS and the responsibilities it places on landlords and local authorities. Whether you're a tenant, landlord, or simply interested in housing standards, this episode provides invaluable insights into safeguarding homes and promoting well-being for all.
Meet The Experts: Head of Fire Safety, Josh Alderson
In this episode, we sit down with our Head of Fire Safety, Josh Alderson, who joined our team in February 2024. We explore his journey, from his early career to his current role, and how he's settling into his new role. Discover the proactive measures he and his team are taking to keep on top of developments and changes within the fire safety sector.
Uncover common misconceptions clients have about fire safety, as well as the most significant changes he has witnessed throughout his career. Plus, get an exclusive insight into our new fire compartmentation audit service ad how it differs to a full compartmentation survey.
We also delve into what qualities make for an efficient fire risk assessor, offering valuable insights for both professionals and clients. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of fire safety and the expertise behind it.
Women Leading Change in Housing - International Women’s Day Podcast Special
Tune in for a special International Women's Day episode of the Ask the Experts Podcast by Pennington Choices, as we sit down with inspiring women leaders in the housing sector.
Hear their stories, insights, and experiences as they share their journey and discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in the housing sector.
- Letrice Thomas,
Head of Knowledge and Client Insight at Pennington Choices - Fiona Astor
Director of Transformation at Magenta Living - Helen L Scott
Group Head of Programme at Torus
Fire Safety Legisaltion | Ask the Experts Podcast
Tune in to our short podcast extracted from our insightful webinar, "Fire Safety Legislation: Latest legal obligations and best practice".
Hear from our building and fire safety experts, Letrice and Jim, who provide a recap of fire safety legislation, lessons learned, and best practices developed over the past year. Topics covered include:
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- Fire Safety Act 2021
- Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
- Building Safety Act 2022 – Section 156
Watch the full webinar now to discover best practices developed from working with organisations over the past year. Download presentation slides, access live poll results, and Q&A session here.
Consumer Regulation: Are you ready to meet the revised standards? | Ask the Experts Podcast
Tune in to our short podcast extracted from our insightful webinar, "Consumer Regulation: Are you ready to meet the revised standards?"
In this segment, our experts engage with the Regulator of Social Housing to explore the upcoming changes in consumer regulation, set to be enforced from April 2024.
Discover essential insights within the webinar such as:
- How to prepare for and stay compliant with the new consumer regulation.
- What the revised consumer standards will look like and how they will impact your organisation.
- Information on submitting Tenant Satisfaction Measures to the Regulator by summer 2024.
Watch our webinar in full with presentation slides here.
Legionella: Back to basics | Ask the Experts Podcast | November 2023
We’re back! November’s ‘Ask the Experts: What’s new this month’ podcast episode covers all things water hygiene and legionella. This episode highlights the key factors of Legionnaire’s disease, including where it comes from and how to keep your water safe. Discover how to determine if you need a legionella risk assessment to comply with the BS 8580 standard, how to find the most suitable risk assessor for you, and what actions to take post-risk assessment. Gain expert insight on how to manage water hygiene in commercial properties, offices, communal areas, and domestic properties within social housing.
We’d love to hear from you if you have any feedback or specific topics that you want to ask our experts to cover in next month’s instalment!
Links discussed within podcast -
June 2023 | Ask the Experts: What's new this month?
June's 'Ask the Experts: What's new this month?' podcast episode covers both May and June updates, discussing the latest building and fire safety updates in detail, as well as touching on news around consumer regulation and housing standards. From the opening of the registration portal by the BSR and a new fire safety campaign by Salix Homes, to the Housing Ombudsman's new Spotlight report on Knowledge and Information Management, this month's episode is jam-packed with expert insight into the newest industry updates. As always, if you have any feedback or specific topics you’d like us to discuss, we’d love to hear from you.
Links discussed within the podcast -
April 2023 | Ask the Experts: What's new this month?
On this month's ‘Ask the Experts: What’s new this month?’ episode, our experts discuss the general updates and key news you need to have on your April radar, from Tenant Satisfaction Measures coming into force and the continued wait for the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill, to damp and mould investigations and the government's new ‘Make Things Right’ campaign.
March 2023 | Ask the Experts: What's new this month?
March’s episode of Ask the Experts delves deep into several key updates around building safety, new regulations, and property condition...from the new ‘Be ready’ campaign by the Building Safety Regulator and the amends to the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill, right down to the updated guidance from the Scottish Housing Regulator and why the 2025 analogue phone switch off should be on your radar.
February 2023 | Ask the Experts: What's new this month?
On this month’s episode of our monthly series, our team of experts discuss Michael Gove admitting that flawed government guidance contributed to the cladding crisis, recent regulatory changes around building and fire safety, the Housing and Health Secretaries responding to the Coroner's prevention of future deaths report around damp and mould; and an update on water hygiene guidance.
If you have any feedback or specific topics you’d like us to discuss, we’d love to hear from you. See you next month!
Sarah Davies, Professional Services Director
Siobhan McCoy, Head of Consultancy
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Caitlin Stubbs, Consultant
January 2023 | Ask the Experts: What's new this month?
Kicking off our first Ask the Experts podcast of 2023, January’s episode covers the most recent updates for property condition and building safety, from the release of ONS census data to the consultation on the Higher Risk Buildings Regulations. Our experts also chat about the upcoming Tenant Satisfaction Measures and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 coming into force very soon.
If you have any feedback or specific topics you’d like us to discuss, we’d love to hear from you. See you next month!
Sarah Davies, Professional Services Director
Siobhan McCoy, Head of Consultancy
Letrice Thomas, Senior Consultant
December 2022 | Ask the Experts: What's new this month?
On this month’s episode of our monthly series, our team of experts cover the main changes you need to be aware of as we enter December. We discuss responding to the Regulator and addressing recent announcements from Michael Gove, to the closure of the Grenfell Tower public inquiry and the management of data, all whilst keeping things brief.
If you have any feedback or specific topics you’d like us to cover, please get in touch. We look forward to chatting again in the new year!
Siobhan McCoy, Head of Consultancy
Jordan Brown, Senior Consultant
November 2022 | Ask the Experts: What’s new this month?
On this episode of our brand new monthly series, our team of experts share their wealth of knowledge on the Sector Risk Profile, your Annual Data Return, professional competence and regulatory judgements. We also touch on the reappointment of the Secretary of State, and what this means for you.
As always, we’re keeping it brief for your convenience. If you have anything specific you’d like us to cover next month, or wish to give us some feedback, please do get in touch. We look forward to chatting again next month!
Sarah Davies, Professional Services Director
Siobhan McCoy, Head of Consultancy
Caitlin Stubbs, Consultant
Legionella: Myth Busting | Ask the Experts Podcast
Pennington Choices Consultant, Caitlin Stubbs, is joined by Legionella guru Paul Nolan, to bust some myths surrounding the key areas of water hygiene that are often mismanaged. From the basics of water hygiene management to the legal requirements and best practice you need to be aware of, listen on-demand for expert insights.
To find out how to improve and refine your water hygiene approach, get in touch!
Caitlin Stubbs, Consultant
October | Ask the Experts: What’s new this month?
Introducing the first episode of our new monthly podcast series. For October, our team of experts discuss the key things that will be of interest to you. These include the updated regulations for carbon monoxide smoke alarms, the statistical data return amendments proposed for 2023, and the Tenant Satisfaction Measures.
Please get in touch if you have any feedback or anything specific you’d like us to cover. In the meantime, chat soon!
For the links mentioned in the podcast, please click 'see agenda' below.
Sarah Davies - Professional Services Director
Siobhan McCoy - Head of Consultancy
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022: guidance for landlords and tenants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Statistical data return link: - NROSH+ (regulatorofsocialhousing.org.uk)
Housing Ombudsman changes: Scheme changes improve access to Ombudsman - Housing Ombudsman (housing-ombudsman.org.uk)
HSE inspections: HSE launches campaign to combat serious aches, pains and strains in construction | HSE Media Centre
PAS documents on building safety competene: BSI publishes competence requirements for newly regulated roles to support building safety | BSI (bsigroup.com)
Building Safety | Ask the Experts Podcast
Listen to our team of in-house building safety experts who discuss the practical steps housing providers and other building owners should be taking to ensure they are ready and able to comply with the requirements of the new Fire Safety Act 2021; the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, due to come into law in January 2023 and the new Building Safety Act, due to come into law in April 2023.
Want to talk to us about your building safety needs, get in touch!
Lee Woods, Operations Director
Jim Hutton, Head of Fire Safety
Letrice Thomas, Senior Consultant
Fire Safety | Ask the Experts Podcast
In our first episode, we talk to Lee Woods, Mike Kelly and Jim Hutton, with contributions from Head of Consultancy Siobhan McCoy, as we discuss why over 40% of people find fire safety the most challenging area of compliance and what you can do to manage these difficulties to remain compliant and keep buildings and people safe.
Download our free Fire Safety Self-Assessment here.
Lee Woods
Jim Hutton
Siobhan McCoy
Why listen?
- Catch up with leading experts on the latest industry developments
- Find out how your organisation can prepare for building safety compliance
- Understand changes in the regulatory landscape
- Learn about how your organisation can demonstrate property compliance
- Discover how you can raise industry standards in your sector
Our Guidance
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Ebook
9 mins
Get ahead of the upcoming changes to legislation and gain an insight into the specific areas you need to address when the Building Safety Act 2022 is implemented.
Download your free Building Safety Self-Assessment today to help keep your residents safe tomorrow.
Quiz
2 mins
How ready are you for the Building Safety Act 2022?
Take our short test to find out where you are on your planning journey and what your next steps should be.
Ebook
7 mins
Download our free Fire Safety Self-Assessment
to help you identify any gaps in your Fire Safety compliance.