Data for good: The role of analytics in solving the housing crisis

Millions of people are waiting for an affordable home, yet the real challenge lies in what we don’t know about the homes we manage.

The UK housing crisis is deepening by this shortage of affordable homes, alongside the rising cost of living, and increasing homelessness. According to Shelter England, over 1.3 million households are currently on the social housing waiting list, and 164,000 children are living in temporary accommodation.

A major barrier to progress is the lack of reliable data. Without accurate information on property conditions, housing providers struggle to plan essential repairs or risk wasting money on the wrong ones. This data gap leaves thousands of families trapped in overcrowded, deteriorating homes, while affordable housing continues to decline.

 

Quality data deficiency

The absence of quality data creates serious challenges for the social housing sector. According to GOV.UK, between 2023 and 2024, an average of 15% of households in England lived in ‘non-decent’ homes, often lacking modern facilities or accurate records of their condition.

Without historical and real-time data, addressing issues such as structural integrity, layout, and energy efficiency becomes nearly impossible. This prevents housing providers from planning repairs effectively or identifying opportunities to improve sustainability. The result? Higher costs, slower progress, and missed chances to provide better homes for families.

The solution lies in data and analytics. By utilising these tools, policymakers, housing providers, and local authorities can gain deeper insights into housing stock, enabling informed decision-making, targeted interventions, and smarter use of funding. Cybit helps organisations achieve this by delivering advanced analytics platforms and tailored data strategies that turn fragmented information into actionable insight.

Building a strategy with people in mind

Social housing organisations often take a reactive approach, addressing problems only after they arise, resulting in old houses left in inhabitable conditions and trying to solve the issue with new builds. The aftermath of this approach are residents who are left with their emotional and generational attachments overlooked. Many families have lived in the same properties for decades, creating strong community bonds that complicate decision-making and highlight the need for more empathetic planning.

Cybit helps housing providers combine data-driven insights with human context. By integrating analytics that reveal root causes and optimal actions, we enable smarter, more considerate decisions. Our AI-powered solutions transform raw data into actionable intelligence, helping policymakers and housing organisations plan in ways that respect both people and place.

We work with our partners beyond short-term fixes and adopt a strategic, data-led approach. With a robust data infrastructure, organisations can monitor housing stock, anticipate future needs, and plan long-term investments with confidence. This optimises funding, reduces emergency repairs, and builds resilience across housing systems.

The goal is to create communities that thrive, not just survive. A strategic approach also ensures that housing development is integrated with transport, utilities, schools, healthcare, and other essential infrastructure, laying the foundation for sustainable, connected neighbourhoods.

 

Driving a real‑world impact

It’s no secret that lack of knowledge and data is the main challenge in infrastructure planning. Increasing the literacy of data amongst both planners and service providers, paired with reliable sources for our data, will help move the needle when looking to address the housing crisis. Allowing organisations to be part of the 58% that are outperforming the ones who aren’t using data to guide them.

Partnering with Cybit gives organisations access to proven analytics expertise and modern data platforms, reducing complexity and accelerating results. We help housing providers start small, demonstrate value quickly, and scale with confidence.

The future of housing is data driven. Providers that embrace analytics will deliver safer homes, reduce costs, and create communities that thrive. Those that don’t, risk falling behind.

About Rob Hankin

Rob Hankin (CTO) has 25 years of IT leadership, including a decade in a multi-national manufacturing environment. Over the past 15 years, Rob has worked with leading technologies, vendors, and distributors including Microsoft and AWS. He leads Cybit’s technology partnerships, supporting private and public sector customers across the globe. Rob’s expertise is highly valued by key industry players, where he has served on Partner Advisory Councils and Product Advisory teams. As a trusted advisor, he helps organisations from small enterprises to global industry leaders unlock opportunities through technology.