Hit 2025 running with Voicescape
The weather is changing and the cost-of-living crisis continues, which means tenants will be looking to their housing providers for even more support over the coming months. And following the Autumn Budget announcement that confirmed a ￡500m top-up for the Affordable Homes Programme and a five-year rent settlement for social housing providers, sights are set on a strong finish to 2024 and a positive start to the new year.?
Our annual Customer Conference was a prime example of how Voicescape’s product suite combines to drive better engagement, positive tenant experiences and reduced arrears on multiple fronts. Social landlords from across the country presented and explored innovative Voicescape approaches: doing more with less in income recovery, reducing no-access for compliance visits, and listening and responding to the voice of the tenant. Discover insights from the day here .?
Our specialist team, comprising technical experts and implementation specialists, is dedicated to helping you hit the ground running in 2025 with Voicescape technology. Whether it’s collecting with care and efficiency, giving tenants more control over appointment booking or slashing your caseloads to support those who need you most, we’re here to help.
Social housing sector news
Rachel Reeves pledges to give landlords “long-term certainty on funding”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a ￡500m top-up to the current Affordable Homes Programme to ￡3.1bn, which will help to build up to 5,000 new affordable homes and bring the total investment in housing supply to over ￡5bn. In addition, a five-year rent settlement for social housing providers has been announced to help invest in new homes, with the intention for social rents to increase with the Consumer Price Index and an additional 1%.
Chancellor announces ￡3.4bn to kickstart warm homes plan
During the Autumn Budget, the Labour government announced the start of their warm homes plan by confirming an initial ￡3.4bn over the next three years to transform 350,000 homes, including 250,000 low-income and social homes. The plan was initially announced in September to boost minimum energy-efficiency standards for all rented homes.
Local authority insights
Right to Buy discounts reduced and local authorities to retain full receipts from social housing sales
Rachel Reeves also announced that the government will reduce Right to Buy discounts, while local authorities will be able to retain the full receipts from the sale of any social housing so that it can be reinvested into their existing stock and new supply. The Chancellor said: “By doing this we will give more people a safe, secure and affordable place to live.”
RSH consumer judgements reveal first council to receive top grade
Barnsley Council has become the first local authority to recieve the top C1 grade against the new consumer standards that were introduced on 1st April 2024. Their 18,000 homes are managed by ALMO Berneslai Homes. Barnsley Council said that the top grading and deliverance of consumer standards “demonstrated that we identify when issues occur and put plans in place to remedy and minimise recurrence."
Your Voicescape update?
Voicescape has entered into a 12-month sponsorship agreement with the Housing Quality Network (HQN). More specifically, we’ll be contributing content, running workshops and exhibiting for their specialist Rent Income Excellence Network (RIEN). The RIEN helps housing providers maximise income collection, minimise arrears, support customers and sustain tenancies. Look out for content in the near future and catch us sponsoring and exhibiting at the network’s first event, the RIEN Conference 2024 on 12th November. More information can be found here .
In other news, here’s a roundup of Voicescape activity over what has been a non-stop October of events, announcements and case studies…
领英推荐
Introducing Voicescape Collections Essentials: automating income collection for smaller landlords
Landlords with lower housing stock experience the same problems as those with a larger stock and have the same need to improve arrears positions and drive efficiency to support existing resources. At Voicescape we have always strived to meet customers where they are, leading us to produce an ‘Essentials’ version of our existing Collections offering at a lower cost. Discover how you can reduce arrears and sustain tenancies using an outbound engagement solution, powered by voice and automation technology – get in touch here .?
EVENT: IRRV Annual Conference and Exhibition 2024
In early October we attended the bustling IRRV Annual Conference in Telford where we exhibited and had a great time engaging with a range of councils. A number of insightful conversations were had as we gained a deeper understanding of their strategic objectives, discussing how Voicescape technology can help them save time and money and reach their goals – whether that be related to Council Tax collection rates, adult social care, sundry debts, or all the above! Learn more here about how we support local authorities on their mission.?
SUCCESS STORIES: Delivering results for customers across our product suite
From increasing income and reducing caseloads to driving tenant engagement across multiple campaigns, Voicescape solutions are designed and tailored to work in tandem with the rest of our product suite – empowering the sector to tackle overlapping challenges with intelligent automation. Our recent case studies are a strong representation of the power of Voicescape technology integration:
Save the date
WEBINAR: Future-Proofing Public Services: The Power of Data-Driven Solutions
Join us on 7th November at 2pm for a webinar brimming with expertise and insights, with three special guests. Stacey Valentine, Head of Customer Success at Voicescape, and Ellie Morris, Product Manager at allpay, will present practical and customer-facing insights into our innovative Collections solution as well as the power and potential of payment system integration. We’ll also be joined by Yasmin Lockhart, Income Services Manager at Yorkshire Housing, who will share how this combined solution supported them to achieve their FY24 goals. Register here .?
WEBINAR: Streamline and Accelerate Your Income Teams Before 2025?
On 14th November at 11am, you can discover key tips and insights into how you can implement our powerful income collection solution in just 6-8 weeks – in time to kick-start your arrears recovery for FY26! We will explore how we can help you streamline rent collection, automate repetitive tasks, and focus on tenant engagement. You’ll also hear how special guest Rob Jeffreys, Head of Income at Karbon Homes, harnessed Voicescape Collections to improve their CTA and FTA debt over the past financial year. Reserve your spot here .?
EVENT: Scottish Federation of Housing (SFHA) Associations Finance Conference
Attention to our Scottish followers: Voicescape’s Luke Solís and Luca Malatacca are attending the SFHA Associations Finance Conference on 12th and 13th November. If you’re in attendance, they’d love to connect and discuss how Voicescape can help improve your collection rates in an ethical and effective manner to buck the growing arrears trend. Don’t hesitate to drop them a message.
Embrace technology now to hit the ground running in 2025
Voicescape isn’t just equipped to provide you with powerful solutions to help you improve your arrears position and connect with communities. We have dedicated implementation and customer success specialists in place ready to help you go-live and start reaping the rewards in a matter of weeks. We’ll partner with you not only to harness our solution, but also to explore new customisations and upgrades to meet your unique needs head-on. Book a demo to find out how Voicescape can help you .?