Review Calls for Nationwide Green Roof Installer List and Maintenance Warning

A REVIEW of a green roof installation ordered by the Housing Ombudsman has called for a list of nationwide green roof installers. The review also warned of installing green roofs without fall arrest systems to enable regular maintenance to be carried out safely.

The review was ordered by the Housing Ombudsman following a complaint received by Wiltshire-based Aster Group housing association. The complaint was about storm damage to a green roof installed on one of four association-owned homes in Swanage, Dorset. Although the roof did not leak, the householder’s report informed the organisation about loose roof coverings caused by wind uplift.

Because Aster did not respond to the householder’s complaint in time, the Ombudsman became involved.

Maintenance Warning

The independent review revealed wider safety and maintenance issues primarily about the need for a fall arrest system to have been installed with the green roof.

Completed in 2012, green roofs were installed at five Aster properties. Despite the specification detailing a fall arrest system to allow safe initial watering of the extensive green roof while it became established, that was not installed. It meant that regular maintenance could not be carried out.

However, the review also found that Aster’s administrative departments were unaware of the need for maintenance of the green roofs.

Additionally, the housing association keeps a list of 123 roofing contractors, but not of their areas of expertise. When it came to identifying a green roof contractor to repair the roofs, the organisation failed to appoint a suitable contractor.

The roofing contractor that was appointed advised the Association to contact the roof’s manufacturer, Sika, but it failed to do so.

Nationwide Green Roof Installer List

Ark Consultancy, the organisation carrying out the review, states: “As far as we can determine there isn’t a specific nationwide green roof installer accreditation scheme in the UK that applies uniformly across the industry.”

It advises contacting the Green Roof Organisation (GRO) as a reference source.

The review also found there were no irrigation systems or safety measures like fall restraints installed with the green roofs. Their absence affects both the expected life and safety of the roofs.

It added that the housing association should have been aware that roofs need maintenance and checked that this could be done safely with a fall arrest system in place.

The review said the housing landlord should act to:

• Add green roof specialists to approved supplier lists
• Reinforce handover processes to alert staff about maintenance requirements for green roofs
• Improve training to ensure staff understanding of green roofs and their safe maintenance

Richard Blakeway, Housing Ombudsman, said: “This review reveals the proactive and positive steps Aster is undertaking … It also creates wider learning opportunities for landlords who are looking to bring residents on the journey to create zero carbon new homes.”

An Aster statement read: “A full replacement of the living roof was completed in summer 2024. Following this case, we carried out a full review of all the living roofs on our homes. We have since amended our policy and procedure for maintenance and repairs and have reviewed our supply chain arrangements for living roofs.”

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