The NHMF Best Practice Awards celebrate the organisations, partnerships, projects and individuals that are raising standards across housing maintenance and asset management.
From innovative products and digital solutions to building safety, sustainability, customer engagement, social value and people development, the awards recognise those delivering measurable benefits for residents, communities and organisations.
Whether you have led a transformative project, developed a groundbreaking solution, built an exceptional partnership, championed inclusion, or inspired future talent, this is your opportunity to showcase your achievements. Judges will be looking for innovation, collaboration, value for money, resident benefit and lasting impact, alongside ideas and approaches that can help drive improvement across the wider housing sector.
Enter the NHMF Best Practice Awards to gain industry recognition, share your success and demonstrate how your work is helping to shape the future of housing maintenance and asset management.
Closing date for entries: 30th October 2026
Celebrating organisations or projects that are raising standards in compliance, health and safety, building safety and quality assurance. Entries should demonstrate innovative approaches to risk management, resident safety, regulatory excellence and quality control, supported by measurable outcomes and value for money.
Judges will look for evidence of a positive safety culture, long-term impact, resident and stakeholder confidence, and potential for wider adoption across the housing sector.
Celebrating initiatives that are raising environmental standards through decarbonisation, retrofit, energy efficiency, sustainable asset management and environmental innovation. Entries should demonstrate practical delivery, innovation and measurable outcomes.
Judges will look for evidence of environmental impact, value for money, benefits for residents and communities, effective collaboration, long-term sustainability, and the potential for replication, scalability and wider adoption across the housing sector.
Celebrating initiatives that are raising environmental standards through decarbonisation, retrofit, energy efficiency, sustainable asset management and environmental innovation. Entries should demonstrate practical delivery, innovation and measurable outcomes.
Judges will look for evidence of environmental impact, value for money, benefits for residents and communities, effective collaboration, long-term sustainability, and the potential for replication, scalability and wider adoption across the housing sector.
Celebrating organisations that are raising standards through innovative approaches to people development, skills and workforce capability. Entries should demonstrate measurable benefits for clients, contractors, residents and communities, alongside value for money and long-term impact.
Judges will look for evidence that training, recruitment, apprenticeships, leadership, inclusion, wellbeing and future talent development have improved service delivery, strengthened organisations and supported the wider housing maintenance sector.
Celebrating partnerships that are raising standards through exceptional collaboration between landlords, contractors, consultants, suppliers, SMEs and resident groups. Entries should demonstrate stakeholder involvement, shared goals, innovation and measurable outcomes.
Judges will look for evidence of improved services, resident and community benefit, social value, value for money and lasting impact, alongside strong potential for replication and wider adoption across the housing sector.
Celebrating partnerships that are raising standards through exceptional collaboration between landlords, contractors, consultants, suppliers, SMEs and resident groups. Entries should demonstrate stakeholder involvement, shared goals, innovation and measurable outcomes.
Judges will look for evidence of improved services, resident and community benefit, social value, value for money and lasting impact, alongside strong potential for replication and wider adoption across the housing sector.
Celebrating projects, partnerships and initiatives that deliver meaningful social value for residents and communities. Entries should demonstrate measurable outcomes through community investment, employment and skills, wellbeing, inclusion, environmental improvement or local partnerships.
Judges will look for resident benefit, collaboration and lasting impact. Open to clients that have used previously NHMF Frameworx, with the winner receiving a £10,000 donation from the NHMF Frameworx Social Value Fund.
Celebrating a woman who is raising standards through outstanding leadership, contribution, innovation or advocacy within repairs and maintenance, investment, asset management or building safety. The category recognises both operational and strategic delivery, including innovation in transformation, service improvement and resident-focused change.
Judges will look for individuals making a positive and lasting impact within their organisation, supporting inclusion and inspiring future talent across the sector.
Celebrating an apprentice, trainee or early-career individual who is raising standards through exceptional commitment, professionalism, adaptability, innovation or impact within housing maintenance or asset management.
Judges will look for evidence of a significant contribution to their organisation or the wider sector, a positive attitude to learning and personal development, strong teamwork, resilience in overcoming challenges, and clear potential to make a lasting contribution in the future.
The NHMF Best Practice Awards recognise one of NHMF's core principles: that best practice is delivered through effective collaboration between housing providers/ local authorities and service providers.
Entries for all team award categories are welcome from housing providers and local authorities. Service providers may also enter; however, entries submitted by a service provider must be made jointly with a housing provider or local authority partner and demonstrate the outcomes achieved through collaborative working.
This applies to:
The following categories do not require a joint entry and may be entered by, or on behalf of, individuals working for either housing providers, local authorities or service providers:
Organisations may submit entries in up to two categories, provided each entry relates to a different project.
The NHMF is the leading body representing housing providers, committed to championing innovation to deliver excellence in maintenance and asset management
