Get to know our Assets Team: Paul Blowers | Tenant news

Paul Blowers, who joined Habinteg six months ago as our Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Compliance Contracts Manager, tells us what he does day to day, what he likes about working for Habinteg and why he likes a snowy holiday.

How would you describe your job?

I complete and check reports on gas, electrics and water hygiene carried out on Habinteg’s homes to ensure they’re compliant with regulations and Habinteg’s policies and procedures. I take action on outstanding issues or things requiring immediate attention with the relevant contractors and jobs raised in the system.

If I’m working in the office, I support other departments with anything compliance-related or technical.

My responsibilities also include dealing with stage 1 complaints, attending site visits and on-scheme tenants’ meetings in schemes, working with the surveyors and Neighbourhood Coordinators and ensuring our contractors have competent engineers in place to carry out work for Habinteg. Every day is different.

How long have you been working in housing asset compliance?

I’ve been working with Habinteg for around six months but I’ve been working in compliance for over eight years as a manager and supervisor after leaving the tools as a gas engineer for too many years!

What’s the best thing about your job?

It’s knowing that the gas and electrical aspects of tenants’ properties are safe and well maintained. As an engineer, there was no better feeling at work than repairing a grateful customer’s boiler or heating system (and getting rewarded with a brew and a biscuit) and I have taken that mindset into management as well.

Why is your job important?

As a M&E Compliance Contracts Manager, I ensure that the gas, electrical and water hygiene responsibilities of Habinteg’s homes are safe and well maintained - that is essential for the health and wellbeing of Habinteg tenants.

What do you like about working for Habinteg?

The fact that we’re a social housing provider that specialises in accessible housing, as this means a lot to me due to personal reasons.

If you were able to ask one thing of all the tenants in your region, what would it be?

I would ask tenants how we can improve our servicing program for gas and electrical testing including access issues, as it would be good to know if there are better ways to contact tenants about carrying out mandatory checks.

You’ve got a bonus holiday for being a great member of our Assets Team – how do you spend it?

If it’s sunny, either golfing or a long walk with the dog and my wireless headphones!

If you could have a dog, cat or a rabbit as a pet, which one would you choose and why?

I have a 4-year-old Goldendoodle…It’s nuts but in a good way!

What’s your favourite Friday night takeaway?

It's got to be Indian food.

Where is your favourite place to go on holiday?

Any Alps destination with plenty of snow.

What’s your idea of a good neighbour?

Welcoming, with a fridge full of Guinness.

If you could choose, who would you most like to live next door to, and why?

The Argentine football manager Marcelo Bielsa - the man’s a footballing genius.