AUGUST 2026

 

FROM SPREADSHEETS TO A SINGLE VIEW OF COMPLIANCE

 

Propeller has enabled Hundred Houses Society to replace manual compliance processes with a centralised digital platform providing clear reporting, an audit trail and regulatory assurance.

Founded in 1933, Hundred Houses Society is a not-for-profit housing association with a portfolio of 1,300 homes across Cambridgeshire. A small landlord with just 33 staff, the organisation outsources gas servicing, electrical inspections and remedial repairs to contractors, supported by both an in-house maintenance and compliance officer.

The compliance challenge

After joining Hundred Houses Society as Health, Safety & Compliance Manager, Jenny Bamford set out to overhaul compliance management and remove the organisation’s reliance on manual data entry.

“All our compliance was managed using different spreadsheets which was proving risky,” explains Jenny. “We’re all human and mistakes can happen, but accidentally deleting a row or using an incorrect formula has serious consequences for compliance, so we needed a more robust approach to adhere with regulatory standards.”

Jenny explored dedicated compliance software, evaluating several options before choosing Propeller. The decision followed months of research, including conversations with other housing associations already using the platform, so she could hear firsthand about their experience before committing.

A central, real-time view

Propeller’s software enables the compliance officer to digitally track contractors’ servicing and inspections, and attach certification as it comes in. This data is analysed in real time to show which properties are compliant or due or overdue a safety check.

The maintenance officer benefits from Propeller’s mobile app, which has replaced paper-based job sheets, allowing them to see their full day’s work at a glance. Completed jobs are date and time-stamped, including photographs, creating a clear audit trail.

“Being able to monitor our compliance activity through a single source is a huge benefit,” says Jenny. “That one visual view means we can quickly check we’re on track or if any issues need addressing.”

Extending the solution

As a second phase, Hundred Houses Society implemented Propeller’s asset tagging solution for fire doors. A QR code gives every fire door a unique asset tag, which can be scanned to reveal its history, and any defects are instantly captured in the Propeller app. This information is logged in real time on a central dashboard where repair actions can be raised and prioritised.

The Propeller team site to help design and customise QR code labels with the Hundred Houses Society logo, delivering them within two days, and ran a hands-on training session tagging doors alongside the maintenance officer.

A measurable shift

Since adopting Propeller, the organisation has seen a step change in how compliance is managed and evidenced. Compliance reporting, data integrity and efficiency have all improved significantly, and spreadsheets have reduced from 25 to just 3 with the remainder mostly used for remedial works tracking.

“I have to report and evidence around 15 compliance KPIs every month, which is now much faster and more professional with Propeller,” says Jenny. “I can export polished reports directly from the platform rather than sending copies of spreadsheets to our head of property. We’re also in a much stronger regulatory position with no serious recommendations from audits since adopting Propeller.”

A priority partnership

As a small social landlord, Jenny initially worried the organisation could be pushed down a supplier’s priority list, but that wasn’t her experience with Propeller.

“Sometimes we get a little bit of small housing association syndrome, but we’ve always felt as important as anybody else with Propeller,” reflects Jenny. “When we were onboarding, the team gave us a lot of support and time, and we’re always made to feel like our views count.”

Summing up the partnership’s success, Jenny concludes: “I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved together and the impact it’s had on our organisation. We’ve transformed manual compliance processes into a structured, visible and professional system that’s given both our team and our Board complete confidence in our approach.”