What we do

i2i is now in its 2nd phase having previously supported Local Authorities and Transfer organisations to achieve WHQS and WHQS plus principles.

The focus now is on including retention authorities, Large Scale Voluntary Transfer organisations, and traditional RSL’s in that agenda so that the standard is achieved across the entire sector.

WHQS support

i2i is founded on the principle that achieving WHQS will rely on people – tenants, staff and councillors – making informed choices and having opportunities to be fully involved. Poor quality information can lead to confusion and even breed resentment and anger.

We base our work on the following foundations agreed with the Welsh Assembly Government and the national housing organisations:

We offer support in achieving WHQS whether the Local Authority remains the landlord or transfer to a registered social landlord is proposed
Although i2i is part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s housing division we operate at arms length
We are committed to working with public, private and third sector partners who are involved in delivering WHQS

Housing regeneration

Achieving the WHQS across social housing in Wales should and does provide an opportunity to regenerate communities and create long term solutions where there is the co location of poverty and bad quality housing. i2i has developed the WHQS plus agenda, which promotes utilising social clauses, including targeted recruitment and training, as a core element of the commissioning and procurement process for WHQS related contracts. This ensures that there is a real possibility to develop skills and job opportunities for local people, which in turn can lead to improved outcomes for all involved in the WHQS process.

How can we support you?

i2i can support you to achieve WHQS in a variety of ways;

WHQS support – we can provide you with independent advice and information during the ballot process and can organise and facilitate sessions and workshops with tenants, staff and councillors to ensure that all the information required for stakeholders to make an informed decision made available. i2i’s work in this area includes the “what tenants want” resources. A number of other current initiatives can be found at i2i projects or i2i resources.
WHQS plus – Would you like to ensure that housing investment is contributing to wider regeneration benefits? The i2i team can guide you through how to gain maximum community benefits through the procurement process to hardwire targeted recruitment and training into WHQS contracts, and we are currently developing guidance to use supply chain development as a requirement in contracts. i2i’s work in this area includes “The can do toolkit” and the Savills report “WHQS plus – Maximising benefits across Wales”. The housing and regeneration focus of i2i is to develop and promote new ideas in this field to influencing key partners and ensure that good practice is shared, developed and built upon.