Turning Challenge into Opportunity: How Scottish Social Landlords Can Lead Through Uncertainty
Scotland’s social housing sector is experiencing a period of profound challenge. From deepening housing shortages to rising financial pressures, Scottish social landlords are being tested like never before. But in adversity lies opportunity — the opportunity to lead, to innovate, and to reimagine service delivery. By embracing data-driven decision making in housing, social landlords can deliver smarter, more efficient services that support tenants during these uncertain times.
Understanding the Current Landscape
A Declared Housing Emergency
In May 2024, the Scottish Government declared a national housing emergency in response to worsening housing conditions. The facts are stark: over 99,000 households are currently on social housing waiting lists, and more than 16,000 households — including over 10,000 children — are living in temporary accommodation.
The pressure is compounded by a 15% fall in the number of new social homes being built, pushing more families into insecure living situations and increasing demand on an already stretched sector. For those working in leadership in social housing, the challenge is clear: meet growing needs with dwindling resources.
Budget Cuts and Rising Costs
Scottish social landlords are also dealing with acute financial strain. The Scottish Government’s grant programme for new social housing saw a £196 million cut in the 2024–25 budget, a 26% drop from the previous year. Meanwhile, inflationary pressures and higher maintenance costs are eroding the financial capacity of providers to invest in quality homes and services.
Policy Shifts and Sector Expectations
The Housing (Scotland) Bill
Introduced in March 2024, the Housing (Scotland) Bill is designed to tackle housing insecurity and reduce homelessness. It introduces new duties for public bodies and social landlords to identify people at risk earlier and intervene proactively — a significant shift in responsibility.
While this is a positive move for tenants, it also places additional pressure on already stretched housing teams. This shift in expectations underscores the importance of social housing innovation in Scotland, particularly in how providers manage workloads, prioritise need, and deliver support efficiently.
Tackling the Issue of Empty Homes
As of early 2025, nearly 5,000 social homes in Scotland sat empty, with a quarter awaiting disposal, demolition, or reconfiguration. These properties represent a missed opportunity to alleviate homelessness and reduce housing pressure — but bringing them back into use requires resources, coordination, and smart asset management.
Turning Challenge into Opportunity
Leveraging Data for Smart Decision Making
To overcome these challenges, Scottish social landlords must turn to data-driven decision making in housing. By unlocking insights from existing data — whether repairs logs, arrears trends, or stock condition information — housing providers can:
- Prioritise interventions that deliver the greatest impact
- Identify tenants at risk earlier
- Allocate resources more efficiently
This proactive approach is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for navigating uncertainty in social housing.
Embracing Technology to Drive Efficiency
Digital transformation is enabling social landlords to do more with less. AI-powered platforms like Mobysoft’s RentSense and RepairSense help automate routine tasks, highlight risk, and enable teams to focus on what matters most — supporting tenants. Whether it’s automating arrears worktrays or analysing repairs data to spot recurring issues, technology in social housing is becoming indispensable for cost-effective service delivery.
Collaborating and Leading with Purpose
In uncertain times, leadership means more than managing risk — it means galvanising teams, building partnerships, and making decisions rooted in tenant outcomes. By collaborating with tech partners, regulators, and communities, housing leaders can champion an inclusive, forward-looking approach that turns today’s problems into tomorrow’s progress.
Shaping the Future, Starting Now
Scotland’s social housing sector is under immense pressure — but pressure also creates momentum. With the right tools, insights, and partnerships, Scottish social landlords can lead the way in building resilient, data-informed services that meet tenant needs and withstand fiscal challenges.
Mobysoft is proud to support housing providers in this mission. Our platforms are built specifically for social landlords, helping you:
- Analyse repairs and arrears data to reduce inefficiencies
- Predict and prevent issues before they escalate
- Free up staff time to focus on complex cases and tenant engagement
Join us at our upcoming Scottish Leadership Event on Wednesday, 4 June to explore how you can transform challenge into opportunity — and lead through uncertainty with confidence.
Mobysoft AI-powered PropertySense® applications RentSense® and RepairSense® help landlords improve their income-collection processes and the productivity, quality, and sustainability of their repairs service for the benefit of all involved.