Why we are engaging with Orkney Islands Council (Orkney)
We are engaging with Orkney about its stock quality and tenant and resident safety.
In January 2023 Orkney told us that it had identified weaknesses in the quality of the evidence underpinning the data used to report on Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) compliance. In December 2023 it confirmed that the SHQS data remained unvalidated, and that there were inaccuracies in the data. Since then, Orkney has completed some SHQS checks to validate its data and has made positive efforts to improve the evidence underpinning the SHQS data.
Orkney is addressing weaknesses in its SHQS information. As part of this it will commence a stock condition survey in 2026/27 which will fully assess SHQS compliance in all of its homes. Orkney last carried out a stock condition survey in 2007.
In January 2025, Orkney told us that a number of planned legionella risk assessments had not been completed. Orkney investigated this and found that it had only completed legionella risk assessments for a small number of its homes. Orkney is progressing with carrying out legionella risk assessments in all of its homes.
What Orkney must do
Orkney must:
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send us the information we require in relation to its stock condition survey and approach to asset management;
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send us regular updates on its progress to validate and improve the quality of its data used to report compliance with the SHQS; and
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send us monthly updates on its progress with completing legionella risk assessments and any required actions in its homes.
What we will do
We will:
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review the information Orkney provides about its stock condition survey and approach to asset management and engage as necessary;
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review the information Orkney provides about its progress to validate and improve the quality of its data used to report compliance with the SHQS and engage as necessary;
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review the information Orkney provides about its progress on completing legionella risk assessments and engage as necessary; and
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update our published engagement plan in the light of any material change to our planned engagement with Orkney.
Regulatory Returns
Orkney must provide us with the following annual regulatory returns:
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Annual Assurance Statement; and
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Annual Return on the Charter.
It should also notify us of any material changes to its Annual Assurance Statement, and any tenant and resident safety matter which has been reported to or is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive or reports from regulatory or statutory authorities or insurance providers, relating to safety concerns.