ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions releases latest white paper on key management for void properties

ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions, a UK division of ASSA ABLOY, the global leader in door opening solutions, has released its latest white paper on key management and control for void properties in the social housing sector.

According to the Department for Communities and Local Government, housing associations and local authorities own five million homes in the UK, with 610,000 of these homes empty at any one time between tenancies – approximately an eighth of the total stock.

The time spent by local authorities physically handing over keys between different maintenance staff and contractors can cause significant workflow delays, increase the risk of keys being lost or stolen, and result in considerable delays in re-letting properties.

All of these issues can potentially lead to large costs for councils and housing associations. The white paper from ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions addresses the impact that effective key management and control can have on improving operational efficiencies for void properties, as well as ensuring budgets are used more efficiently.

Finally, the white paper outlines how ASSA CLIQ Remote can make a huge difference to an organisation’s key management and control processes. These include streamlining operations, reducing the risk of lost or copied keys being compromised, cutting costs and improving an organisation’s sustainability credentials.

ASSA CLIQ Remote is a simple, intelligent electro-mechanical locking system that allows only those with the necessary authority to access a building. It enables owners to have complete control over who can access a property, with members of staff allocated a single key, and entry permissions that can be altered remotely or set for only a certain length of time.

One organisation to benefit from ASSA CLIQ Remote is Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC). Since its introduction, the system has helped the council save approximately 40 hours of time every week. The reduction in re-let times has allowed RMBC to deliver an additional £60,000 a year in rental income revenue, enabling the council to use its budget and resources more effectively.

The guide’s author, Simon Wilson, National Sales Manager for ASSA CLIQ Remote, said: “In the social housing sector, the pressure to re-let houses as quickly as possible and work to tight budgets should not be underestimated. Nevertheless, properties will inevitably stand empty between tenancies, while staff and contractors carry out the necessary repairs and maintenance.

“As a result, the need for an efficient and effective key management process is really important. Our latest guide discusses this in more detail, while demonstrating the benefits of adopting ASSA CLIQ Remote. It has proven to help save local authorities and housing associations considerable amounts of time and money.”