Fast-growing PropTech platform EVO has appointed Kate Davies CBE FRICS as a Non-Executive Director and Board member as it continues to expand its support of rental properties across the UK.
Kate has worked in the social housing sector for 35 years, most recently as CEO of Notting Hill Genesis, where she spent 18 years overseeing a period of significant positive transformation and growth. Kate has also served as a non-Executive Director across the housebuilding, modular, insurance and technology sectors. In 2022, she was awarded a CBE for services to housing in recognition of her passion about the quality of homes and use of data to improve resident experiences in the affordable housing sector.
EVO is an integrated digital repair and maintenance services company which works with Housing Organisations and Build to Rent providers to automate and digitalise the repairs process whilst enhancing customer experience.
Steven Rae, CEO of EVO, said: “This is a huge coup for EVO, we are thrilled that Kate has agreed to join us. Her knowledge and experience of housing, technology and innovation are second-to-none, having published White Papers and led the market on this topic. We share an ambition to drive the sector forward with data-led technology that will improve housing provision and maintenance and ensure that customers receive the best experience possible, whilst also helping landlords – whether Registered Providers or institutional BTR – maintain costs and budget effectively for the years ahead. We know Kate’s expertise, insight and industry respect will help power EVO to the next phase in its growth with a strong positive social impact on rental communities across the UK.”
Kate Davies said: “EVO has impressed me with its customer focus and excellent technology. It is committed to long-term asset improvement to benefit residents, and it helps landlords accelerate their data-led asset strategies. This reduces long-term costs and provides real insight into future operations. I look forward to helping them grow and support its aspiration to being the provider of choice for residential landlords.”
In the last 12 months, EVO has added another 5,500 properties across the UK, reduced turnaround time of repairs to 6 days across the portfolio against an industry average of over 28 days, and received a 4.8 out of 5 star rating based on Customer Satisfaction Surveys.
Steven Norris, Chair of EVO, added: “We are delighted by Kate’s appointment and cannot wait to start work on the next phase of our growth, which is crucial to helping solve the problem this country has when it comes to quality of housing. In the UK, around 1 million rental homes remain below the Decent Homes Standard or are in disrepair, including 11% of all social homes. With a strong focus on health & safety the onus is on landlords to ensure their properties are in line with Building Safety Acts and Awaab’s Law and this also includes most of them needing to target 100% stock condition surveys across all portfolios on a five-year roll. Using technology like EVO to both pre-empt, budget for and resolve issues promptly will bring many of these properties into compliance, which is essential as everyone should have the right to a safe, secure and quality home.”
