Client Overview
Our client is a large social landlord operating across Greater London and the Southeast, responsible for hundreds of sites and thousands of residents. They manage water safety compliance regimes across 850–900 sites, including risk assessments, planned preventative maintenance (PPM), and remedial/capital works.
Challenge
Water safety compliance is unique among risk-based regimes because the same service provider often delivers:
- Risk assessments
- Planned preventative maintenance
- Remedial and capital works
While this approach offers convenience, it introduces significant risks:
- Impartiality concerns at a strategic level
- Practical challenges in controlling expenditure and ensuring accountability
- Difficulty validating competence and value for money
The client recognised these risks but wanted to retain the practical benefits of a single provider. They needed independent oversight to ensure transparency, compliance, and financial control.
Our Approach
Clear Safety worked collaboratively with the client and their service provider to deliver:
- Independent technical expertise to challenge and validate contractor recommendations
- Quality Assurance (QA) programmes targeted at high-value quotations and PPM tasks
- Management software providing an evidenced audit trail for each monthly valuation, subject to approval before payment release
- Targeted inspections for sites with quotations above financial thresholds and periodic checks to evidence PPM regimes
- Support for internal teams lacking technical competence, reducing reliance on the contractor and improving data integrity
All figures presented are extracted from our live reporting system, which client managers can access and interrogate at any time. This ensures operational expenditure is fully evidenced for financial audit without filtering, manipulation, or estimating.
Outcomes
Clear Safety delivered measurable savings and operational improvements across three key areas:
Total documented savings: £196,454.50
(Excludes additional labour savings from avoiding recruitment of a legionella surveyor and admin support.)
Case Study 1: Oversight of WQRA Programme – £66,454.50 Saving
A client with 850 sites instructed Clear Safety to analyse the roles and responsibilities of their single legionella contractor. We identified areas of considerable risk and challenged a service provider that had become complacent and resistant to proportionate responses to risk.
Clear Safety supported an internal team lacking technical competence, enabling them to challenge the contractor effectively. We provided technical advice and managed the approvals process, saving the client from recruiting a legionella surveyor and additional admin staff.
- 142 extra-contract works applications audited
- Value: £176,643
- Savings: £63,121 (35.7%)
- Total savings: £99,537 against our fees of £33,082.50 (11 months)
- Net saving: £66,454.50 (excluding labour savings)
Outcome: Complete control of compliance data, improved accuracy, and confidence in board-level reporting.
Case Study 2: Oversight of PPM Regime – £80,000 Annual Saving
A client with 900+ sites asked Clear Safety to oversee water hygiene PPM tasks delivered by the same provider responsible for WQRA. We evidenced that weekly and monthly tasks were completed, remedial actions were undertaken at agreed rates, and risks were mitigated.
Our management system linked works to agreed SOR codes, enabling quick approvals and accurate cost control. QA inspections monitored site attendance, logbooks, and task completion.
- Savings: £20,000 over 3 months compared to previous period
- Projected annual saving: £80,000
Case Study 3: Planned Capital Expenditure – £50,000 Saving
Clear Safety oversaw planned capital projects linked to water hygiene management. We assessed recommendations, monitored specifications and quotations, and ensured compliance with legal requirements and proportionality of risk versus cost.
Targeted inspections focused on high-value quotations, delivering:
- Savings: £50,000 by challenging excessive quotations
- Additional benefit: Avoided recruitment of technical and admin staff
Client Benefit
- Full control of compliance data and improved accuracy
- Evidenced financial decisions for board-level reporting
- Demonstrable value for money and reduced reliance on a single provider
- Enhanced confidence in compliance and risk management
Call to Action
Partner with Clear Safety to achieve compliance, control costs, and build confidence in every decision.
