Housing associations could save more than £285m every year by re-engineering their repair and maintenance (R&M) materials buying and management, according to a new study.

The analysis of a range of social housing providers, undertaken by MindMetre Research, and commissioned by the Travis Perkins Group, highlights that by re-engineering R&M materials purchase and management procedures, social housing organisations could save £1.7bn in social housing R&M costs by the end of the decade.

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The study, Material Advantage, took in the experiences of 95 housing associations and councils that have already addressed inefficiencies in this area, found that partnering with an organisation to reduce their materials supply chain can enable housing authorities to improve efficiency and productivity.

Ian Church, Managing Director Travis Perkins Group Managed Services, said: "With social housing providers under continued pressure to do more with less, the smallest inefficiency can cause much larger issues for authorities. Identifying the purchasing and management of R&M materials as a starting point, however, means housing associations can begin to address the issue."

(CD/JP)