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In our last Social Housing Know-How update, we focused on the draft Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) and reminded you that the deadline for responses was 12 January 2026. We also highlighted the findings of the latest Social Housing Sector Risk Profile (November 2025), which reinforces that damp and mould is now a top priority for landlords. With Awaab’s Law introducing strict statutory timescales for investigation and remediation, boards must ensure they have the right systems, resources and governance in place to manage both tenant risk and regulatory expectations.
In this month’s update, we turn our attention to three further areas that are increasingly shaping risk, compliance and delivery across the sector - fraud resilience, employment law change, and grant audit assurance. Each has the potential to create material financial, operational and reputational impact, and each requires timely action and the right support. |
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We’re also pleased to share that we’ll shortly be recording our third Social Housing podcast episode in February, focusing on fraud prevention and detection. In this session, we’ll be discussing real-life case examples, key warning signs to look out for, and practical steps providers can take to strengthen controls and improve resilience. |
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This month’s Social Housing Know-How includes:
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- Fraud Protection & Detection – strengthening prevention, improving detection and responding effectively.
- HR Consultancy/Employment Rights Act 2025 – what’s changing and what you should be doing now.
- Grant Audit – assurance, compliance and support for funding requirements.
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As always, if you have any questions or would like to discuss how these changes might affect you, please reach out to us at 📞 03330 910411 or 📧 at socialhousing@menzies.co.uk. |
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Fraud Protection & Detection Fraud remains one of the fastest-growing, most complex risks facing social housing providers - from tenancy fraud and procurement irregularities to insider risk and cyber-enabled threats. With the new Failure to Prevent Fraud offence now in force, boards and executive teams must be confident that proportionate fraud prevention procedures are in place and evidenced.
Read our Fraud Know How one-page briefing to understand what an effective fraud control framework looks like and how to strengthen your organisation’s resilience. |
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HR Consultancy: Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA) – Time to Act The Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA) marks a significant shift in the employment law landscape and will require employers to review policies, processes and people practices to remain compliant and reduce risk. For social housing providers, the impact will be particularly important where workforce capacity, service delivery and employee relations pressures are already high.
To support employers in preparing, we are running a webinar on 29 January, focused on what the ERA means in practice and the actions organisations should be taking now. |
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Grant Audit Support for Social Housing Providers Grant funding continues to play a key role in supporting investment programmes across the sector, and robust assurance remains essential to demonstrate compliance with funding conditions and reporting requirements. With the next year end for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund being 31 March, many providers will be considering their audit requirements and reporting obligations.
Our specialist grant audit support helps providers meet funder requirements, strengthen assurance and provide confidence over the appropriate use of grant funding. |
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