What Is an Options Appraisal?
An Options Appraisal is a structured, evidence-based review of housing assets designed to support long-term decision-making. For local authorities and housing associations, options appraisals help determine whether homes and estates remain suitable for continued use, or whether alternative approaches such as increased investment, refurbishment, redevelopment or disposal should be considered.
By analysing existing stock data, asset performance and financial viability, an options appraisal provides clarity on which assets can be sustainably maintained and which may no longer meet organisational, regulatory or resident expectations.
Supporting Informed Asset Decisions
Social landlords face increasing pressures from building safety, Decent Homes compliance, net zero targets, affordability constraints and changing housing demand. Options appraisals provide a defensible framework for balancing these pressures, ensuring investment is targeted where it delivers the greatest long-term value and social benefit.
Our options appraisals are designed to support transparent, auditable decisions that can be relied upon by senior leadership, boards, elected members and regulators.
Our Options Appraisal Approach
We begin by reviewing and validating the data you already hold. This typically includes stock condition information, planned maintenance costs, compliance and building safety data, energy performance, rental income and operational costs. Where data gaps or uncertainties exist, these are clearly identified so that decisions are made with a full understanding of risk and assumption.
Using this baseline, we develop and test a range of realistic options for each asset or group of assets. These may include continued maintenance, increased investment to meet future standards, major refurbishment or remodelling, regeneration or redevelopment, change of use, or disposal. Each option is considered in the context of your wider asset management strategy and organisational priorities.
Financial, Risk and Feasibility Assessment
Each option is assessed for financial viability and long-term sustainability. This includes modelling capital investment requirements, future maintenance liabilities and impacts on the Housing Revenue Account or business plan. We also consider deliverability, funding constraints and sensitivity to future cost and policy changes.
Alongside financial testing, we assess regulatory compliance, building safety implications, planning constraints, resident impact and programme risk. This ensures recommendations are practical, proportionate and aligned with both statutory duties and strategic objectives.
Outputs You Can Act On
Our options appraisals result in clear, decision-ready reports that set out the rationale for each option and identify a preferred way forward. Recommendations are supported by robust evidence and written in plain English, making them suitable for use in board papers, cabinet reports and internal approvals.
The outputs are designed to bridge the gap between technical data and strategic decision-making, giving you confidence that choices are both justifiable and deliverable.
Why Work With Us?
We have extensive experience supporting councils and housing associations with complex asset decisions. Our advice is independent, objective and grounded in a strong understanding of social housing finance, regulation and operational realities. We focus on providing clear, practical recommendations that stand up to scrutiny and support long-term asset sustainability.