Housing Technology Data Standards Report

In September 2024, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), of which the Regulator of Social Housing is a part, published its discovery report into the quality of data in social housing - repairs and allocations. The research estimated that "poor quality data costs the sector ￡400 million per annum".

Four principle issues were identified:

1. Teams storing their data in siloed systems that don’t talk to each other (neither the people nor the systems)
2. Errors due to people inputting data manually (and often using their own data definitions)
3. Data that is duplicated, inconsistently entered and incomplete (example given was residents who are recorded as being 120 years old or having four children despite having been recorded as only being born 10 years ago)
4. Staff grappling with complex tasks without all the information they need to do their jobs properly

This will come as little surprise to those involved in social housing data as these issues have been highlighted time and again, but in this case the report was followed by a Housing Technology survey of 63 major Social Housing Providers on their perception of data challenges in the sector. This survey is now considered to be the largest of its kind, providing vital insight for organisations like the MHCLG in their ongoing efforts to shape and improve social housing data standards.

The majority of those surveyed (85%) were calling for 'Data glossaries and dictionaries' to support their regulatory reporting processes. This top request was closely followed by the call for guidance around 'Data validation and auditing tools' (80% of respondents).?Again this comes as no surprise as since the introduction of the new regulatory requirements last April and the much publicised increased scrutiny of performance reporting, landlords have been calling for guidance on how to better formulate their regulatory returns and be able to demonstrate to the Regulator's satisfaction that performance data is correct. Data standards and data error detection tools provide the answer.

Another key finding was the need for 'verification and auditing'. The MHCLG appears now to be actively considering an approved audit that has been developed in partnership by HACT and Data Futurists, which could go a long way to support standardisation in the sector. This, along with the development of glossaries, dictionaries, best-practice guides and training for front-line staff will in my view provide the sector with exactly what it needs to accelerate progress and harness the incredible power of data, not only for the good of those that live in social housing, but for those that work in it too, empowering them to provide great service for less effort and helping them to have the time and ability to identify those that need their help most.

I'm keeping a close eye on how this progresses.?

For reference, below is a list of the organisations that took part on the Housing Technology survey.

Acis Group, Anchor, Aspire Housing, Barnet Group, Believe Housing, Berneslai Homes, Bernicia Group, Caledonia Housing, Caredig, CHP, Clanmil Housing, Cobalt Housing, Community Connex, EMH Group, Epic Housing, Freebridge Community Housing, Grand Union Housing, Great Places Housing, GreenSquareAccord, Habinteg Housing, Halton Housing, Hightown Home & Communities, Karbon Homes, Link Group, Longhurst Group, Housing, Home Group, Islington & Shoreditch Housing, Kainga Ora Home & Communities, Karbon Homes, Link Group, Longhurst Group, Magenta Living, Magna Housing, Metropolitan Thames Valley Homes, Newark & Sherwood District Council, Newlon Housing, Newport City Homes, Notting Hill Genesis, Onward Homes, PA Housing, Places for People, Platform Housing, Plymouth Community Homes, Poplar HARCA, Prima Homes, Raven Housing Trust, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, Rooftop Housing, Salvation Army Homes, Selwood Housing, South Lakes Housing, Southdown Housing, Southern Cross Housing, Southern Housing, Sovini, Stonewater, Tai Calon Community Housing, Trivallis Housing, Valleys to Coast Housing, Wales & West Housing, Wandle, Westminster City Council,? Woven Housing and Yorkshire Housing.