Housing Needs Study
We are carrying out a study of the condition of homes in certain areas across Malvern.
If you have received a letter from us inviting you to take part in a survey, please use the link in the letter and your access code to take part.
The study has two stages:
- Stage 1: Complete our online survey.
- Stage 2. A surveyor will arrange a 20-minute visit to your home to assess your kitchen and bathroom facilities, as well as any issues such with damp, poor heating, and energy efficiency.
The study is being carried out on behalf of Malvern Hills District Council by Opinion Research Services (ORS) an independent social research organisation. You can contact ORS about this study via email at
This study is about understanding the condition of the houses that local people are living in. It helps the Council to understand local housing needs and better plan for the future.
The survey is being conducted on behalf of the Council by Opinion Research Services (ORS), an independent social research agency. You can find out more by visiting the ORS website.
You have been randomly selected from a list of all homes held by the Royal Mail. It is not possible to ask everyone to take part so we select addresses to represent the area.
No – taking part is optional. However, the more people who take part the better informed the Council will be. You can withdraw from the survey at any time by contacting ORS on Freephone 0800 3247006 or emailing
The Council needs to understand the condition of all housing. This helps to inform policies on what support home owners might need to improve their properties.
The Council needs to understand the condition of rented housing. The findings will not identify your property but will help the council to understand if rented properties generally need more repairs. This helps to inform policies on what support landlords and tenants might need to improve rental properties.
The survey is for all properties, not just housing in poor condition. It is important that the survey covers all types of properties to make sure that the results are representative of the area.
The survey is a simple visual inspection, which normally takes 20 minutes. They will enter the property assess your kitchen and bathroom facilities, as well as issues such as damp, poor heating, and energy efficiency.
If you would like to take part but are unable to go online you can call Freephone 0800 3247006 Mon – Fri from 9 - 5 and complete the survey over the phone.
The survey will ask if you own or rent your home. We also ask about the people living in the property including their ages.
We do not have an online survey in any languages other than English but please email us with your request and we will call you back for a telephone interview.
All surveyors will carry an ORS photo identification card and have a letter from the Council. They will know the unique code which is assigned to your property. If you have any concerns you can call Freephone 0800 3247006.
There may be a few weeks between completing the online survey and our surveyor getting in touch. Our surveyors will get to you as soon as they can.
Vouchers will be sent to the contact email address provided as part of the household survey once the surveyor confirms they have successfully completed the property survey. Clear instructions will be given on how to claim and use your voucher.
The information will only be used for research and statistical purposes. Your contact details are kept separate from your answers and used only to make a surveyor appointment and provide your voucher. The overall results will be shared with the Council for the purpose of producing and publishing statistics. This data will not include your name or address.
All information will be processed in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Further information about the way we handle your personal data can be found at:
MALVERN: Privacy Notice AND www.ors.org.uk/privacy