Data Quality is not optional, but it shouldn’t be hard work either

Matt Jollands has worked in and around social housing for the best part of a decade, and through discussion with peers, observations of the industry and current discussions sector wide he believes that there is an issue with data in UK social housing.

Housing Associations love to talk about being ‘data driven’, but if we’re honest, in most circumstances the data that drives decisions, allows performance management and benchmarking, and ultimately could help to improve the service that tenants receive is patchy at best, and unusable at worst.

In this article Matt explores the sector’s challenges with data, and urges it to really, really, acknowledge its importance and potential.

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Opinion: Dampen your Mould – The dire state of housing in the UK

The dire state of housing and the poor conditions in which many private rented sector, council and social housing tenants are living has been brought to the forefront yet again in recent weeks.

Good, because this needs to be addressed. SHM’s Dr Gaby Wolferink writes about her views and experiences and thinks about how sensor technology can and should be used to build better housing, fit for the 21st century, for everyone, not just those who can afford it.

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2021: A Home Odyssey

In this article Dr Gaby Wolferink looks back to 2020 and what she feels should be the key lessons to be brought into 2021 and beyond.

It ended up a story of privilege and a call to action for tech providers, architects and social housing providers to start building homes fit to harbour someone in a pandemic, in safety, instead of being yet another concern.

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Letter to my Landlord

Recently, things have become just a bit too much. The pandemic, changes to planning laws, evictions can go ahead again, and wishy washy statements about funding for retrofit of the existing housing stock and building more social housing.

An anonymous contributer decided to write a letter to their landlord, addressing issues that other private renting tenants might recognise.

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The People Who Occupy the Margins

This is the first of our Anonymous contributions from a social housing professional working in the intensive housing management part of a large housing association. The author wants to bring to the forefront some challenges they are facing and hopes to start a recognition and discussion about what housing providers can do to prevent people from falling through the cracks.

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