Housing association appoints city council and 14 law firms to £1.4m panels

April 2, 2015

One of the largest housing associations in the North West, City West Housing Trust, has selected the legal team at Manchester City Council and 14 law firms for a framework agreement worth £1.4m over four years.

The successful firms (appointed across eight lots) were:

Bermans: employment;
BLM: anti-social behaviour; housing and tenancy management;
Brabners: anti-social behaviour; housing and tenancy management; governance; employment; leasehold properties; land and property sales; contract and procurement; development of new accommodation;
Cassell Moore: governance; employment; land and property sales; development of new accommodation;
Croftons: anti-social behaviour; housing and tenancy management; governance; leasehold properties; land and property sales; development of new accommodation;
Devonshires: governance; employment; land and property sales; contract and procurement; development of new accommodation;
DWF: governance; contract and procurement;
Forbes: anti-social behaviour; housing and tenancy management; governance; employment; leasehold properties; land and property sales; contract and procurement; development of new accommodation;
Hill Dickinson: employment; development of new accommodation;
Howarth Goodman: development of new accommodation;
Knights: employment; contract and procurement;
Manchester City Council: anti-social behaviour; housing and tenancy management; employment; leasehold properties; land and property sales;
Trowers & Hamlins: governance; employment; leasehold properties; land and property sales; contract and procurement; development of new accommodation;
Weightmans: anti-social behaviour; housing and tenancy management; governance; employment; leasehold properties; land and property sales; development of new accommodation;
Whiteheads: anti-social behaviour; housing and tenancy management; leasehold properties.

City West Housing Trust, which owns more than 14,600 homes in the North West, said the £1.4m estimate was based on its own anticipated requirements and that this value might increase if other social housing providers in the UK decided to join and call off under the framework agreement.

The housing association has also appointed a range of suppliers of consultants services, including building surveyors, architects and structural engineers.

The appointments were made on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender in terms of quality (weighting 90) and price (weighting 10).