The Cabinet Member Signing meeting on Monday 27 July 2026 approved the re-procurement of a housing management system, ensuring the continuation of essential housing services. The decision was made following consideration of exempt information.

NEC Housing Re-procurement

The meeting approved the commencement of a procurement process for a new housing management solution, with a contract to be awarded to NEC Software Solutions UK Limited. This decision ensures the council can continue its vital housing transactions, including rent collection, service charge management, and repairs and maintenance. The new contract will be for a period of four years, from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2030, at a cost of £561,400.

The use of the Vertical Application Solutions (VAS) framework¹ was deemed the most efficient route for re-procurement, as it pre-vets suppliers and sets out terms and conditions, aligning with the council's statutory duties for housing management. Councillor Johann Beckford, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, approved the recommendations.

Without this new contract, the council would face significant operational, financial, and compliance risks, including a lack of support and maintenance for its core housing management system. This could lead to the inability to raise works orders for repairs, leaving residents without essential maintenance, and ultimately prevent the council from operating key landlord functions and meeting its legal obligations.

Alternative options considered included doing nothing, which was not viable as the current contract expires on 31 July 2026. A mini-tender competition using the G-Cloud framework was considered but deemed more expensive and resource-intensive. A full procurement process was not pursued due to the time and resources required, especially when compliant framework agreements were available. The VAS framework offers favourable government terms and conditions through the new Public Sector Contract (PSC).

The NEC Housing system has been in use for five years and the new contract will cover a comprehensive suite of modules, including rent and service charge management, repairs, allocations, and customer relationship management. The decision is expected to have a positive impact on residents, particularly those in temporary accommodation, council housing, and those at risk of homelessness, who are disproportionately represented by protected characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, and disability.