Alan Wake, CEO of the National Leasehold Group, speaks about the new partnership.
The NLG are delighted to be working with Flat Living and looking forward to increasing our offer to members and customers through this exciting new partnership. Since we established the National Leasehold Group (NLG) in 2009, we have always looked at increasing the ways in which we can connect with all sector stakeholders and further play our part in improving the resources available to all while enabling better understanding of property management within the Social Housing Sector. Providing up to date commentary, information and advice is so important and never more so given the challenges facing us in these extraordinary times.
The NLG began as a result of a need for clarity around how Housing Associations were managing Leasehold property and quickly established a stated aim of improving services, professionalism and standards within our industry. The founding members are really proud of what it has become; with over 250 members and an established programme of popular seminars, training events and conferences. The amount of support members have provided each other with throughout the issues of the past few months has been a pleasure to witness.
It is important of course that we don’t rest on our laurels as we have so many key challenges to address in the short term. With regard to COVID-19, the reaction of our members in terms of transforming their services to home working almost overnight has been outstanding. This has inevitably created issues which we need to keep a keen eye on, not least lone working, but I get the feeling generally that many are surprised at how seamlessly we have transformed our way of working. From a property management service point of view there are clearly challenges thrown up by COVID-19 safety considerations and the sector will need to be innovative in communicating new and difficult messages.
All this is done of course against a backdrop of existing issues with cladding, building safety and the associated costs which members continue to work hard at addressing. Leasehold Reform is something that remains firmly on customer agendas and the NLG will need to play a part in informing and facilitating inevitable change. We will also be keeping a keen eye on any reforms of Shared Ownership.
Finally, and most importantly of course, we are all aware of the impact the above will have on our customers. There is no doubt that these are unprecedented times and a huge number of people will be affected in terms of work situations, financial stability and continuing safety concerns. My number one challenge is to shape an NLG that assists members and stakeholders at every level to understand each challenge as well as promoting innovative solutions in extraordinary times.
As we have traditionally been a networking organisation, we have clearly based our activities around face to face meetings, seminars and conferences. I am delighted to say that we too appear to be adapting and are now providing online options which allow our members to develop understanding, share good practice and support each other within the sector. Our relationship with Flat Living will play an important role in making sure our resources are made as widely available as possible.
You can find out more about the NLG by visiting their website.
