Decorative Solutions framework

Housing associations manage void property decoration efficiently through PfH’s framework by using trade supply routes for direct labour organisations ensuring rapid access to materials at pre-negotiated rates, issuing decorating vouchers to incoming tenants allowing them to decorate to personal preferences reducing void turnaround times, maintaining framework call-off contracts with suppliers ensuring consistent pricing and availability, and accessing dedicated account management for responsive service. This approach reduces decoration costs, speeds void turnarounds, improves incoming tenant satisfaction by enabling personalisation, and provides flexibility between housing association decoration and tenant responsibility depending on property condition and strategic approaches to void management.

The framework covers comprehensive decorating products including internal paints for walls, ceilings, and woodwork, masonry and external paints for building exteriors, specialist paint coatings for specific applications, wallpapers and wall coverings, woodwork treatments and preservatives, decorating cleaning materials, decorating tools and equipment, and associated sundries. Services include tenant decorating voucher schemes in various formats and denominations, bulk supply to contractors and direct labour organisations, dedicated account management, management information reporting, and social value tracking. All products and services are available through competitively appointed suppliers with national coverage ensuring accessibility for housing associations and their residents across the UK.

The Decorative Solutions framework provides housing associations with two procurement routes: Lot 1 for retail decorative vouchers redeemable by tenants at major retailers, and Lot 2 for trade decorating supplies for contractors, direct labour organisations, and trade-accessible tenant vouchers. Housing associations access the framework through direct award for straightforward requirements or mini-competition for complex needs. Framework suppliers offer pre-negotiated pricing, national coverage, dedicated account management, and comprehensive product ranges. The framework runs until 30 November 2025 (OJEU reference 2021/S 000-019401) providing compliant procurement whilst enabling flexible approaches to decoration whether through direct supply or empowering tenants through voucher schemes.

Masonry paint is exterior paint formulated specifically for external walls, providing weather protection, breathability, and durability against harsh conditions. Housing associations need masonry paint for planned external decoration programmes, weather damage repairs, maintaining render and brickwork, and protecting building fabric from moisture penetration. Framework suppliers provide masonry paints suitable for various substrates including render, concrete, brick, and stone, with finishes ranging from smooth to textured and colours meeting estate appearance standards. Quality masonry paint systems extend decoration intervals, reduce maintenance costs, and protect building structure whilst improving kerb appeal.

Internal paint for social housing properties should offer durability, washability, low odour characteristics, and quick drying times minimising disruption during void turnarounds. Framework suppliers provide internal emulsion paints suitable for walls and ceilings, gloss and satinwood finishes for woodwork and trim, and specialist paints for kitchens and bathrooms requiring moisture resistance. Trade-grade paints offer better coverage and longevity than retail alternatives, reducing repainting frequency and long-term costs. Housing associations can specify paint systems through framework suppliers based on property types, tenancy patterns, and maintenance strategies, with products meeting relevant British Standards and environmental requirements.

Paint procurement services available for social housing organisations through PfH’s Decorative Solutions framework include direct supply of trade decorating products to contractors and direct labour organisations, tenant decorating voucher schemes enabling residents to obtain materials, bulk purchasing at pre-negotiated rates, national and regional supplier coverage, dedicated account management, and comprehensive product ranges covering internal paints, masonry paints, specialist coatings, wallpapers, and sundries. Framework suppliers provide detailed management information reporting, social value tracking, and sustainability commitments ensuring housing associations achieve compliant procurement whilst delivering value for money and supporting organisational objectives.

The best trade paint suppliers for housing associations are those appointed through PfH’s Decorative Solutions framework including PPG, ICI-Akzonobel, and Crown. These suppliers were competitively selected based on quality, pricing, social value commitments, sustainability practices, and service delivery capabilities. Framework suppliers provide internal paints, masonry and external paints, specialist coatings, wallpapers, woodwork treatments, and decorating sundries with guaranteed pricing and national coverage. Housing associations benefit from pre-negotiated rates, consistent product quality, dedicated account management, and compliant procurement without individual tender processes for decorative supplies.

Painting a council house front door typically requires written permission from your council as external decoration remains landlord responsibility under most tenancy agreements. Many councils have policies allowing tenants to paint front doors in approved colour ranges maintaining estate aesthetics whilst permitting personalisation. Some councils provide specific colour charts showing permitted options. Tenants should contact their housing officer before painting external doors to avoid breaching tenancy terms or having to repaint at tenancy end. Internal door decoration is usually permitted without permission and councils may provide decorating vouchers for internal decoration materials.

Tenants typically cannot paint the exterior of council houses without written permission from their council as external decoration remains the landlord’s responsibility under most tenancy agreements. Councils maintain external decoration to ensure consistent appearance across estates and protect building fabric through appropriate paint systems and maintenance schedules. Some councils may grant permission for specific circumstances like painting front doors in approved colours, but tenants should always seek written consent before undertaking external decoration. Internal decoration is generally permitted and many councils provide decorating vouchers enabling tenants to maintain internal decoration standards.

Decorating vouchers from housing associations can be used at participating retail stores and trade suppliers appointed through PfH’s framework. Retail vouchers (Lot 1) are redeemable at major retailers with extensive store networks accessible by public transport, whilst trade vouchers (Lot 2) can be used at specialist trade suppliers offering professional-grade products. Your housing association will provide specific information about which suppliers accept your vouchers, store locations, and what products are covered. The framework ensures national coverage so tenants across the UK can access convenient redemption locations near their homes.

Council house paint vouchers work by providing tenants with redeemable vouchers for specific denominations usable at participating retail stores and trade suppliers with national coverage. Councils issue vouchers through the framework with suppliers including major retailers like B&Q and trade suppliers like PPG, Crown, and ICI-Akzonobel. Tenants present vouchers at checkout to redeem against decorating products including paint, wallpaper, woodwork treatment, tools, and decorating sundries. Participating stores are accessible by public transport and located across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland ensuring convenient access for all council tenants.

Social housing decorating grants are not typically available, but housing associations and councils provide tenant decorating vouchers serving a similar purpose. These vouchers enable tenants to obtain decorating materials from approved suppliers at no direct cost. Voucher schemes are more common than cash grants as they ensure funds are used specifically for decoration rather than other purposes. Some housing associations provide vouchers to new tenants, during tenancy transfers, or at regular intervals throughout tenancies. PfH’s Decorative Solutions framework enables housing associations to implement compliant voucher schemes with national supplier coverage.

Housing associations issue tenant decorating vouchers through PfH’s framework as part of tenancy agreements, void preparation strategies, or responsive maintenance approaches. Vouchers can be issued for new tenancies allowing incoming tenants to decorate to their taste, for existing tenants at fixed intervals, or following complaints about decoration standards. Housing associations purchase vouchers in bulk at negotiated rates from framework suppliers, distribute them to tenants with clear terms, and tenants redeem them at participating retailers or trade suppliers. This reduces direct labour decoration costs whilst improving tenant satisfaction and empowerment.

Tenant decorating vouchers mean social housing tenants receive financial support from their housing association or council to purchase decorating materials rather than waiting for landlord decoration services. This approach gives tenants control over timing, colour choices, and decoration standards in their homes whilst reducing housing association reactive maintenance costs. Vouchers ensure tenants can only purchase decorating products rather than cash payments, providing accountability for housing associations whilst empowering tenants to personalise their accommodation and maintain their properties to their own standards and preferences.

Tenant decorating vouchers are redeemable vouchers issued by housing associations and local authorities enabling tenants to obtain decorating products and materials from approved retailers or trade suppliers. Vouchers come in various formats including paper vouchers, cards, electronic point of sale vouchers, magnetic strip cards, and e-vouchers in different denominations. Tenants can redeem vouchers at participating stores with national coverage accessible by public transport to purchase paint, wallpaper, woodwork treatment, decorating tools, equipment, and sundries, allowing them to take responsibility for decorating their own homes.