What happens when you have a conversation about how technology and data could be the ‘silver bullet’ to the many challenges and hurdles faced in social housing?
The answer is a small and committed group of individuals from housing providers, government, local authorities and consultancies who have formed to champion the ideas of collaboration, transparency and service improvement. Our name (working title) is the Open Data Forum.
A national database
We’ve given ourselves six months to persuade the housing sector to create a national social housing database, combining open data with technology standards in order to drive rapid improvement in the management of social housing, transforming the customer experience and creating additional capacity while reducing costs.
The lack of reliable, real-time data has long been a thorn in the side of housing providers and local authorities’ housing departments.
Up-to-date information
Imagine a world where every decision regarding housing is empowered by accurate, up-to-date information. A world where tenants’ needs are not just met, but anticipated and addressed proactively, deep rooted in a robust understanding of homes, needs and preferences. This is the vision driving the creation of a singular, focused database standardising data structures, formats and connectivity across local authorities and housing providers.
At the heart of this vision lies the national social housing database, a revolutionary concept with the potential to reshape the way social housing is managed, regulated, and experienced by millions across the UK.
The urgency of dependable data
In our view, the need for such a database is pressing. Currently, housing providers and local authorities are grappling with a fragmented data environment, relying on outdated tools such as spreadsheets and email threads, and those who have championed technology roadmaps as a silver bullet have often been left wanting as the reality of unreliable, poor quality, disparate data bites. This not only hampers their operational capacity but also impedes their ability to address residents’ needs effectively and make informed decisions.
Recognising the urgency of this issue, regulatory bodies such as the Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman have highlighted the critical role that reliable data plays in their effectiveness. The lack of dependable data not only undermines regulatory efforts but also creates confusion, a lack of transparency and delays in tenant/landlord interactions.
The result is that as few as 20 per cent of housing providers are seeing increases in customer satisfaction, and only 34 per cent of tenants are satisfied with the way their landlords resolve complaints.
Benefits across the spectrum
The benefits of a national social housing database are far-reaching. For housing providers, it offers clarity on property attributes, safety standards and repair needs, empowering them to deliver improved services efficiently. Tenants stand to gain with more information and choice about properties, while the regulator can ensure compliance with a scalable, comparative approach and track property-related issues more effectively.
Furthermore, technology suppliers can better align their products with the housing sector’s needs, perhaps engaging in innovation hubs to foster collaboration to develop cutting-edge maintenance solutions. From precise maintenance planning to resource allocation and insights into property conditions, the potential impact is immense. At a time when supply-chain costs and inflation are biting, greater collaboration, innovation and data quality are essential.
Supporting key government initiatives
This initiative aligns seamlessly with key government initiatives. From alleviating the pressure on social rent inflation to advancing net-zero goals and supporting vulnerable communities, the national social housing database could be a cornerstone of policy efforts aimed at enhancing living standards and driving sustainable growth.
Overcoming challenges
Challenges abound, from incompatible systems, fragmented responsibilities to a skills gap in data management and digital immaturity. However, with a collaborative approach and a dedicated consortium, these obstacles can be overcome. Leveraging existing data sources and engaging stakeholders from housing providers to regulatory bodies, the path to a standardised, comprehensive database is within reach.
A collaborative endeavour
The Open Data Forum stands as a testament to the power of collaboration. Bringing together data experts, housing stakeholders and technology partners, this consortium is driving the development of a national social housing database with unwavering dedication. There is a huge role for housing providers to help us lobby for change and to try out new approaches. For technology suppliers, we look forward to sharing our requirements to see how innovative and effective they could be in helping us move forward.
Looking ahead
As discussions progress and prototypes take shape, the vision of a national social housing database grows closer to reality. With each milestone achieved, the promise of efficient, inclusive communities fuelled by reliable data becomes clearer.
In the journey towards revolutionising social housing, a national social housing database isn’t just a technological innovation. Data challenges are one of the most pervasive risks to the safety and wellbeing of our customers and a national database may be less of a silver bullet and more akin to the penicillin required to overcome this challenge and deliver sustainable benefits for everyone involved in social housing.
Julia Mixter is the executive director of business services at Anchor Housing, writing on behalf of the Open Data Forum.
