As the COVID pandemic began to unfold and impact on all areas of life, we recognised that landlords needed up-to-the minute data to help with decision-making, in an environment where historical comparisons were simply not enough. Our members needed on-time data to compare with others facing the same issues at the same time.
Following a successful pilot in 2020, Housemark began collecting data for a short suite of key performance indicators covering critical measures such as arrears, repairs and sickness absence in the wider context in April 2021. This crucial sector data and analysis is fed back to participants in the form of Monthly Pulse reports, enabling landlords to track performance in context and rapidly adapt. The popularity of this on-time monthly benchmarking grew rapidly, to include 234 social landlords UK-wide regularly taking part.
With 12 months of Pulse data, we have now compiled a report of hot-off-the press results for the 2021/22 financial year, months before this data is available anywhere else.
By making a year-on-year comparison, the report highlights how performance in the previous year (2020/21) was significantly impacted by the pandemic. Many services including lettings and non-emergency repairs were suspended at various points in the year, which had a significant impact on repairs volumes and vacancy rates.
The financial year to March 2022, shows performance gradually returning to pre-pandemic norms over the course of the year for many operational measures, but resident feedback remains challenging. As landlords grapple with new challenges, such as the cost-of-living crisis, price inflation, consumer regulation and net zero targets, reliable and timely data has never been more important.
Read the Year-in-numbers 2021/22 report here
To always gain this exclusive insight into what’s happening in the sector and how you’re performing, sign up to our Monthly Pulse reports, only available with a Housemark membership. Results for April 2022 will be published by 31 May. Contact Siobahan.Kilby@housemark.co.uk for more information.