It’s always reassuring to know that the roof over our heads is going to keep us and our home safe, warm and dry.
But with over 110 tenants living across the North of England, checking the roofs of all Fairoak properties is no small undertaking and something which we’ve called upon a specialist contractor to help with.
Going back not too many years ago, this task would have meant either erecting scaffolding at each property or getting a roofing company with long ladders to help us access the roofs in order to inspect them.
The company we’ve tasked with this project, Vantage UAV, are using the latest technology to make the task quicker, safer and altogether more efficient – and that technology is drones. Vantage also hold preferred supplier status for drone services for the National Housing Federation.
John Holmes, our Asset & Compliance Manager, has been working with Vantage UAV and tells us more:
“Like us, Vantage are a small team but they work right across the country – and even worldwide – and have become the first choice for a lot of housing providers and landlords who need to have their properties inspected from above.”
“The images that the drones capture are incredibly useful and are already helping us to assess the condition of roofs and plan any necessary maintenance.”
“We are primarily looking for obvious signs of damage such as slipped or damaged roof tiles, but we’re also inspecting chimney stacks which may be in need of repair and gutters which are blocked or corroded.”
“Usually the first time we know there’s a problem is when it’s too late and water is leaking in or we get reports of tiles on the ground which have come off the roof. By doing these drone inspections we are able to gather plenty of information about each property and make the right decisions about any necessary repairs.”
This situation is one which John knows only too well, with one of Fairoak’s properties in Kendal which is undergoing significant works to the roof which has become damaged by storms over recent winters.
Vantage started their work in early December and by the end of January (thanks to a few storms) have now completed all the surveys.
The drone rooftop surveys are part of Fairoak’s ongoing asset management programme to ensure that all our supported housing provision is of a high standard and meets the needs of our tenants.
In 2024, this will also include intrusive energy assessments of all properties so that a comprehensive report can be produced and, like the roofing, appropriate works can be commissioned to ensure the properties are as energy efficient as possible.
Photo credit: Kendal rooftops by Jonny Gios on Unsplash