Meet the team: Wayne Frost, Inspections Programme Manager
In the next instalment of our Meet the Team series, we introduce Wayne Frost, whose extensive experience in housing health and safety has been key to the success of delivering comprehensive inspection programmes for our Local Authority partners. In this interview, Wayne shares his journey to becoming Inspections Programme Manager, discusses the vital role his team plays in supporting Local Authorities, and highlights how their combined efforts are improving housing standards for tenants.
Tell us about your role and journey to becoming Inspections Programme Manager at Home Safe?
I began my career in housing health and safety in 2015 as an entry-level property inspector. Throughout the years, I have conducted thousands of property inspections and played a vital role in every Selective Licensing scheme that Home Safe has delivered on behalf of a Local Authority. This extensive experience has prepared me well for my current role as Inspections Programme Manager at Home Safe.
What is the role of the Inspection Team?
Our team plays a vital role in supporting Local Authorities by conducting comprehensive property inspections as part of their Selective, Additional and HMO licensing schemes. We ensure landlords provide homes that meet essential health and safety standards by thoroughly inspecting each property, often multiple times. This gives reassurance to tenants, knowing we'll be coming back. We then provide the Local Authority with detailed reports to give them a clear picture of what’s happening on the ground. By working alongside the council, we help them manage compliance, freeing up their time to focus on enforcement and making sure housing standards are upheld.
What are the most common issues you find in your property inspections?
We often come across issues like damp and mould, structural defects, and missing or faulty smoke detectors. For instance, in one of the schemes we worked on, over two-thirds of the properties inspected during the initial phase had at least one high-priority concern. Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated case and highlights the serious risks these issues pose to tenants. Addressing them quickly is crucial to ensuring tenants are kept safe.
What standards do you apply to ensure the inspections are both thorough and consistent?
We follow a standardised checklist tailored to the specific requirements of each licensing scheme. Each of our inspectors is trained in the Housing Health & Safety Ratings System (HHSRS) and receives regular training and quality control measures to help maintain high inspection standards.
How does your team help Local Authorities identify and address non-compliance in rental properties?
We provide Local Authorities with comprehensive inspection reports that detail the condition of each inspected property and highlight any areas of non-compliance. These reports include information on any identified issues and timelines for compliance. We also provide Local Authorities with a digital inspection dashboard that offers real-time data on the status of properties, helping the council monitor compliance and the time taken to carry out remedial works so that they can make informed decisions.
What do you find most rewarding about your role, and what motivates you and your team?
The most rewarding part of my role is knowing that our work directly contributes to improving living conditions for tenants. Seeing improvements in living conditions as a direct result of our property inspections really motivates me and the team. Many of our inspectors come from public service roles, such as firefighters, bringing a strong desire to help and improve their communities. Often being local to the areas where they carry out inspections, they are committed to raising housing standards and ensuring that every tenant has a safe and secure place to live.