Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

We are doing this survey to help us plan ahead for maintenance and improvements in our homes and buildings.

It is good practice for landlords to regularly inspect their properties.

It has been ten years since we last had an independent survey of our properties.

We will use information from the Stock Condition Survey for an updated assessment on the condition of our properties and a projection of our 30-year investment requirements.

The survey information will inform our future investment plans and programmes.

Savills will also prepare an energy report on our homes and buildings.

Savills Ltd, a major property consultancy, will be undertaking the survey on our behalf.

When surveyors from Savills call to your home they will be wearing Savills-branded clothing and will have identification and a ‘Letter of Authority’ signed by our Chief Executive.

The surveyors will present their identification and letter of authority if you ask them to do so.

A 10% sample of our dwellings, garages, commercial properties, hostels and travellers’ accommodation will be surveyed.

All of our owned offices and depots will also be surveyed. 

The surveyors from Savills will use a random sample of properties which will include all types of our properties across Northern Ireland.

It will begin in January 2026 and should be completed in April/May 2026.

The survey involves a visual inspection of the inside and outside of the property.

This is to determine the conditions of the property and identify what maintenance might be required in the future.

The surveyors will not move your furniture or possessions.

The length of time required to survey will depend on the size of the property.

The survey will take from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the property.

Taking part in the survey is voluntary, but your participation will help us to plan ahead for maintenance, repairs and investment.
 
This is a survey of the property and will not include any of your personal information.

If you take part in the survey, you may be contacted after it by our Customer Service Unit to answer a few simple yes/no questions on your experience – this is simply to provide feedback to Savills on how the surveys are being carried out.  

Your participation in feedback will be anonymous. 

If your property has been chosen to be surveyed, Savills will write to let you know.

Their letter will indicate when the surveys are taking place in your geographical area. 

No, the surveyors will work around you and your family, and the survey is designed to minimise any disruption.

Yes, you, a family member or other occupant (over the age of 18), must be present when the survey is taking place.

You should ensure the surveyor has access to all areas of the property.

The surveyor will need access to all areas of the property during the survey.

In accordance with Data Protection legislation all information relating to the survey will be anonymous and confidential.

The surveyors will inform the Housing Executive right away.

They will report directly to the SCS Senior Project Manager, who will inform the local office for them to review or resolve the issue. 

You can contact your local Housing Executive office:
tel: 03448 920 900 or
email: information@nihe.gov.uk for general information.

If you have any queries on the survey itself, you should call Savills on:
tel: 0800 116 4655

No.  The Surveyor will take photographs outside and inside the property, which are related to the condition of the physical building only.

The Surveyors know when taking photographs that they are not to include any images that are personal to you i.e. family photos etc.

If you do not wish photographs to be taken during the survey, please advise the Surveyor on the day. 

The surveys will be non-intrusive and will seek to minimise disruption and inconvenience i.e. there will be no need, for example, for lifting floorboards or drilling to look into void spaces.  

They should not cause any damage to the property.

You should immediately bring it to the attention of the surveyor and ask them to notify their employer.

If any damage is caused to the fabric of the property, you should contact your Housing Executive local office.

If your personal possessions are damaged you should notify your insurance provider. 

You should follow the normal Housing Executive complaints procedure. We want to sort out problems quickly and locally.

If you have a problem, please phone, e-mail or write to your local office where staff will try to help.

Your local office staff will try to settle your complaint straight away. 
Housing Executive Office Locations

Alternatively, you can make a complaint using our online form.
The Housing Executive - Complaints

There is no link between this survey and the benefits you receive.

However, if a surveyor observes something in the property which does not comply with your conditions of tenancy/lease, the surveyor will be obliged to report this to the Housing Executive.

The surveyor will also contact the Housing Executive if there is an urgent or emergency repair required, if this has not already been reported.

At this stage we anticipate that the overall findings will be made available on the Housing Executive website with a report published in late 2026.

Results for individual properties will not be available.

The Housing Executive will use the information from the survey to tell us where we need to invest, what work we need to do and how much this will cost.

We will then identify the priorities for our maintenance programmes over the next couple of years.

Where work is planned for the property, we will consult with you in the normal way. 

If you have any queries on the survey itself, please call Savills on:
tel: 0800 116 4655



For further information regarding the stock condition survey please scan the above QR code to view a video that explains the survey. 

This video can also be accessed at:
Savills stock survey