Why quality maintenance matters in social housing
The challenge: rising maintenance costs
A major housing association managing over 17,000 homes and supporting more than 35,000 residents across London and the Southeast, needed a trusted partner to maintain its growing portfolio of renewable technologies.
Previously relying on multiple contractors, the organisation faced persistent problems:
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Untrained personnel attending homes, risking system damage and resident safety
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Poor workmanship leading to faults in essential heating and energy systems
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Inconsistent service and rising O&M costs
These challenges made it clear that our client needed a specialist renewable maintenance partner who could ensure quality, safety, and long-term performance.
The solution:
Carbon3 was appointed to deliver both planned and reactive maintenance across One Housing’s portfolio. This included solar PV, solar thermal, air source heat pumps (ASHPs), and EV chargers.
We started by carrying out an asset list, covering their whole renewable portfolio so that the client would have an overview of all system efficiencies. Then we send our electricians to survey and fix any critical technologies. So far, we have serviced over 100 homes to date with zero H&S or resident incidents reported.
We take a resident-first, safety-led approach that includes making sure works are carried out by directly-employed, DBS-checked engineers. We don’t use subcontractors to ensure consistency, accountability, and quality.
Our engineers are renewable technology specialists, not general heating or electrical contractors. Their deep knowledge allows them to diagnose and resolve issues quickly which is especially important when faults impact critical services like heating and hot water. It also means that multiple visits for multiple technologies are not needed, as our engineers are cross-trained to fix all renewables in one visit.
Why O&M matters in social housing:
Maintaining renewable systems in council or social homes means protecting vulnerable residents, ensuring safety compliance, and maintaining trust.
Carbon3’s O&M service delivers:
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Rapid response to reactive faults to avoid resident discomfort or risk (especially in winter)
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Warranty protection through proper maintenance and manufacturer-compliant repairs
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Asset life extension and reduced whole-life costs for housing providers
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Detailed reporting to support carbon tracking and compliance
For example, our engineers resolved a failing ASHP where a previous installer had topped up the system with water (not glycol-safe), and a solar PV issue caused by missing bird mesh, allowing nesting to damage system components.
These issues could have gone undetected or caused further faults under a less experienced contractor.
The result: safer homes, happier residents, and lower long-term costs
Our client has seen significant benefits from partnering with Carbon3 in faster resolution of faults, reduced O&M expenditure, thanks to fewer repeat visits and correct fixes the first time, and improved resident satisfaction, due to respectful service and clear communication.
We carefully plan access around each resident’s availability and aim to minimise disruption at every stage. Whether routine maintenance or urgent repairs, Carbon3 ensures homes stay warm, safe, and energy efficient.
Why choose Carbon3 for housing maintenance?
For housing associations and local councils, renewable system maintenance is a duty of care. From DBS-checked engineers to system-specific knowledge, Carbon3 provides peace of mind and proven performance.
Need reliable O&M support for your housing stock?
Reach out to us at info@carbon3.co.uk to learn how we can support your residents and your assets.
