The aim of these inspections is to ensure that correct specifications of the work are prepared, block contract repairs are identified, standards are maintained and the Association is getting value for money. There are three types of inspections:

• Pre-inspections
• Work-in-progress Inspections
• Post-inspections

PRE-INSPECTIONS
Pre-inspections are to be carried out by both maintenance and management staff before the work is ordered and is intended to respond to the following conditions:

• Doubt about the type of repair needed or if it requires a specialist trade
• Repairs that may be programmable
• Repairs that are likely to cost over £1000
• Repairs that may be subject to an insurance claim and are likely to cost over £500
• Repairs that may be rechargeable to third parties and are likely to cost over £300
• Re-let voids (housing and support officers to inspect initially for sheltered schemes but must request technical inspection where necessary)
• Where an item has recently been repaired
• Where properties require monitoring because of known disrepair
• Where properties have an unusual number of reported repairs.

Pre-inspections are time targeted to respond to the conditions leading to the repair and are linked to the response time for repairs:

IMMEDIATE PRE-INSPECTIONS (Target 1 Working Day)

• Flood from flat above
• Harassment repairs
• Voids
• Break-ins, lock changes after muggings, etc
• Securing property

URGENT PRE-INSPECTIONS (Target 5 Working Days)

• Roof leaks
• Penetrating damp patch
• Elderly tenant unable to open windows
• Complaints
• Environmental Health Notices
• Fire Officer Requirements
• Statutory Undertakings
• Handovers, snagging (as arranged)

OTHER PRE-INSPECTIONS (Target 15 Working Days)

• Condensation
• Improvements and adaptations
• Fences
• Subsidence.

PROGRAMMED PRE-INSPECTIONS

• Estate visits
• Cyclical maintenance
• Planned maintenance inspections.

INSPECTIONS OF WORK IN PROGRESS
The maintenance staff are required to monitor the quality and standard of workmanship during the progress of work. On some occasions it will be necessary to use the housing support officer network of the Association to its full potential to effectively contribute to these inspections:

• To assess the work of any new contractor
• During cyclical maintenance programme as specified in these contracts
• Where completed works may be covered over e.g. new wiring.

POST INSPECTIONS
Post inspections should normally be done by those officers or managers who were not involved in the pre-inspection or raising of the repair orders. However, with resource constraints this will be difficult to implement fully and the condition may have to be waived in practice.

Post inspections will cover:

• A random 10% of all repairs
• All repairs over £1000
• The work of all new contractors
• The cyclical maintenance programme
• Re-let voids (housing support officer's to inspect where minimal works done)

The purpose of the post inspection audit is to check the following:

• Was the work actually done?
• Was the work appropriate to remedy the defect?
• Was it to the required standard?
• Does the work comply with the specification?

Verify against invoice for work:

• Was it correctly charged?
• Did the contractor claim the quantities correctly?
• Did it give value for money?
• Did it give customer satisfaction?

In all cases a post inspection questionnaire covering all the points above must be completed.