This month, leading North West housing Group, Torus, is launching its new Repairs and Maintenance contract, which will see trusted contractors, HMS and Sovini Property Services help to manage and maintain its 40,000 homes.

Worth £1.2 billion, the contract will see the Group further invest in its existing housing stock and leverage the services of experienced, award-winning local contractors to complete a myriad of reactive and emergency repairs.

Torus is committed to ensuring all its customers live in safe, secure, modern homes. The contract, which is derived from the organisation’s new Repairs and Maintenance Framework, will support the Group in responding quickly and appropriately to the needs of its tenants and providing reassurance that all services delivered are of a high standard. Running for four years, with HMS being appointed for three as the First Call Off Contract, works will officially start to be delivered this month.

More agile approach

Following the successful completion of a robust and transparent procurement exercise, HMS were appointed as the Tier 1 contractor and Sovini Property Services as the Tier 2 contractor on the framework.

Utilising a framework approach, Torus can be more agile in how it delivers repairs and maintenance services. Available to other Registered Providers, the framework will help guarantee quality, value for money and ultimately more investment by Torus in its portfolio of properties and communities.

Commitment and understanding

Discussing the launch, Margaret Goddard, Group Assets Director, Torus, said:

“This new framework and renewed partnership with HMS are milestones to be celebrated, having already seen so much progress to date, we are thrilled to begin works with the added support of Sovini Property Services to enable us to provide a long-term, sustained service to our customers.

“We want all our tenants to enjoy their homes and to feel happy and safe in the knowledge that we are putting their health and wellbeing first. As a Group, we have a firm focus on quality, building safety, and community engagement underpins everything we do at Torus.

“The four-year Repairs and Maintenance Framework has been developed to fulfil the current and future expectations of the Group, its tenants, and the Regulator of Social Housing. As a framework it sets the principles for engagement and will be supported by an action plan to ensure delivery and continued progress.

“Both HMS and Sovini Property Services have excellent track records in showing commitment to their customers, communities and ensuring their works are completed to a high standard, which aligns with how Torus operates.

“I am looking forward to seeing both organisations help us to ensure all our tenants receive the support they deserve, providing services without any interruption or delays and helping us deliver value for money for our tenants, particularly as it is important, they know their rent is being reinvested correctly.”

Incredibly effective

Commenting on its ongoing partnership with Torus, HMS’ Managing Director, Paul Worthington, said:

“The whole team is thrilled to be continuing our partnership with Torus. Over the past four years, we have learnt several things that have positively informed and guided how we deliver services and this collaboration with Torus and their customers has been incredibly effective in creating a repairs and maintenance service that works well.

“I’m also looking forward to seeing what the next three years will bring and just how many more repairs we will be able to deliver with the ever-expanding team.”

Mike Dale, Head of Property Services and Growth at Sovini Property Services, commented:

“Like ourselves, Torus is a customer orientated organisation, committed to investing in the communities they work in. We’re committed to delivering an outstanding service to Torus' 40,000 homes, bringing a wealth of experience in repairs and maintenance service delivery.

“We recognise the importance our collaborative partnership is set achieve in supporting our shared vision of enabling the development of economically vibrant communities".