Our Social Housing sector approach
Social housing sits at the heart of sustainable communities across the UK and the organisations delivering it are operating under unprecedented scrutiny and pressure. As the leading provider of audit services to the sector nationally, Menzies supports more registered providers than any other firm, giving us unrivalled insight into the challenges and opportunities shaping the market.
We work with housing associations of all sizes, from local providers to complex regional and national groups, delivering high-quality audit, grant audit and advisory services that go beyond compliance. Our teams bring deep sector knowledge, commercial awareness and regulatory expertise to help organisations manage risk, secure funding, strengthen governance and protect their reputation.
In a landscape defined by funding constraints, regulatory reform, ESG expectations and increasing stakeholder scrutiny, boards need clear, decisive advice. We provide robust assurance, practical recommendations and forward-looking insight that enhance financial resilience, safeguard public funds and support long-term investment in homes and communities.
With a strong national footprint and market-leading position, we help housing providers navigate complexity with confidence and deliver sustainable impact at scale.
Key challenges in the sector
- Budget and funding constraints, alongside reduced financial headroom
- Refinancing risk and increased borrowing costs
- Ongoing evolution of the regulatory landscape and heightened scrutiny
- Increased focus on the quality and safety of homes, including damp and mould, decarbonisation and building safety
- Managing risk, governance effectiveness and operational efficiency
- Data quality, data security and reliance on robust management information
- Climate transition, decarbonisation funding and sustainability reporting
- Financial reporting changes, including the upcoming FRS 102 revisions
- Skilled labour shortages and cost inflation pressures
- Meeting growing demand for high-quality, affordable housing
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Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3
Wave 3 of the Social Housing Fund (“SHF”), formerly Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, marks the…
How can we help?
Our services include:
- External and internal audit
- Statutory external audit and specialist social housing audit
- Internal audit and risk-based assurance programmes
- Grant audit, grant assurance and funding certification, including sustainability-linked lending and covenant reporting
- ESG advisory and ESG assurance, including sustainability reporting and independent assurance over non-financial data
- Governance reviews and board effectiveness evaluations
- Risk management and internal controls reviews
- Fraud investigations and fraud risk assessments
- Financial reporting support, including FRS 102 and sector-specific compliance
- Treasury and funding advisory, including covenant compliance
- VAT and tax advisory services for housing associations
- Regulatory compliance and readiness support
We support boards, audit committees and executive teams with clear, practical advice that strengthens governance, safeguards funding and enhances financial resilience. With deep sector expertise and national insight, we help housing associations manage regulatory change, meet compliance obligations and deliver long-term sustainable growth in affordable housing.
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Housing Know-How March
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Housing Know-How February
ADDED VALUE CASE STUDIES
Efficiency review
We were asked to undertake a review to assist a client in identifying opportunities to increase efficiency in the purchase to pay process across different subsidiaries and to reduce the pressure on the finance team, rather than recruiting more finance staff. We mapped process flows, held one-to-one meetings with key staff and ran a process workshop. We identified the root cause of some issues and identified controls that could be streamlined. Extrapolation indicated that the long term costs provided for within the Business Plan would be understated by approximately £25m. In addition, we identified issues in respect of communication between the Asset Management and Finance Teams and in reporting to Board.
Component lifecycles benchmarking
During a stock condition survey review we undertook data analytics and benchmarking. We identified 3 components where the client lifecycle was greater than the Decent Homes Standard and 4 where they were below. Additionally, we identified where the client lifecycles differed to sector and comparative organisation averages. The results of our work are being used as part of the review and budgeting of the new asset management strategy.
Data integrity
A core feature of all our audits is data integrity. During data mining for a business critical controls audit, we identified data issues between the client housing system and the new standalone compliance software. Investigation identified that the software provider had applied updates to the compliance software that resulted in properties being deleted from the system. Improvements were required to the data governance arrangements with the software provider and to the clients own checks and balances. The early identification meant that there was no breach of law or regulation and no harm to tenants.
CQC requirements
We undertook a review of the controls in place to ensure readiness for CQC visits in areas such as risk assessments, complaints, safeguarding, training and supervision. We identified improvements to standardising risk assessments with core risks, compliance weaknesses with care plans and supervisions, and how the internal second line of defence quality assessment process could be developed to improve the understanding of performance and drive management action.
Procurement Frameworks
We are listed as a supplier under a wide range of public sector procurement frameworks
We are subject to a rigorous procurement process to be appointed as a supplier on the following frameworks:
This ensures we offer the scope, value for money, and quality services required by public sector customers. Being selected on these frameworks reassures public sector customers that they need to safely engage with our services which are delivered to the highest quality standards. The pre-agreed terms and conditions also offer contractual safeguards.