Compliance Check Types (Housing Groups and Blocks)

Compliance Check Types define the different categories of safety and compliance inspections that can be recorded against Housing Groups and Blocks, for example fire alarm servicing, lift inspections and water quality certification.

To access Compliance Check Types (Housing Groups and Blocks), select Admin → Settings from the main menu, then click Compliance Check Types (Housing Groups and Blocks) within the General Settings section.

Managing Compliance Check Types

Affinity is supplied with a default library of commonly used Compliance Check Types. These can be freely customised to meet your organisation’s requirements.

You may:

• Add new Compliance Check Types.
• Rename existing Compliance Check Types.
• Update their settings.
• Delete Compliance Check Types that are no longer required.

The same library is available when recording compliance inspections against Housing Groups and Blocks. It is also used when configuring the compliance requirements and future costs associated with individual Blocks.

This allows each organisation to maintain a consistent library of safety and compliance checks appropriate to its communal areas, buildings, facilities and regulatory requirements.

Creating or Updating a Compliance Check Type

When creating or updating a Compliance Check Type, the following information is available.

Using Compliance Check Types

Compliance Check Types can be selected when recording inspections against Housing Groups and Blocks.

For a Block, open the relevant Housing Group and Block, then select the Compliance Checks tab. Each recorded Compliance Check can include:

• The Compliance Check Type.
• Inspection and Expiry Dates.
• A certificate number.
• A certificate attachment.
• Additional notes.

Using consistent Compliance Check Types makes it easier to review inspection histories, identify upcoming or expired checks and report on compliance across your housing stock.

Asset Management

If the optional Asset Management module is enabled, Compliance Check Types can also be assigned to individual Blocks as cyclical or compliance items.

The Standard Cost and Service Interval values are used to calculate future compliance schedules and forecast expenditure. These costs are included within Block Stock Condition Costs and the wider Housing Group forecasting reports.

Affinity uses the most recent recorded inspection for the Block and Compliance Check Type when determining the next scheduled check. Where no inspection has been recorded, the Block’s year built is used as the starting point for the schedule.

A Year Built must therefore be recorded against the Block before its Asset Management compliance requirements can be configured.

Good Practice

It is recommended that the Default Expiration, Standard Cost and Service Interval values are reviewed periodically to ensure they continue to reflect your organisation’s maintenance contracts, inspection programmes and statutory requirements.

Where different systems or facilities require different servicing frequencies or costs, consider creating separate Compliance Check Types rather than combining them into a single entry. For example, separate Compliance Check Types could be maintained for:

• Fire Alarm and Emergency Lighting.
• Fire Extinguishers and Hose Reels.
• Lift Maintenance Servicing.
• Water Quality Certification.
• Fall Prevention Certification.

This provides more accurate forecasting, clearer compliance records and greater flexibility when assigning Compliance Checks to Housing Groups and Blocks.