Social Housing: MPs Call for a ‘Pooled Fund’ to Tackle Poor Housing Conditions

In February 2026, a committee of MPs announced a proposal urging the government to launch a pan-department “pooled fund” to help social landlords address worsening housing conditions. With mounting concerns about energy efficiency, disrepair, and safety, both policymakers and the broader housing sector are looking for ways to invest in repairs more flexibly. By sharing resources between multiple government departments, the goal is to streamline funding routes, make capital more readily accessible, and ultimately improve the standard of living for residents.

What Is the ‘Pooled Fund’ Concept?

Under this plan, funds would be drawn from different government departments—such as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs—to create a single, larger pot of money. This combined budget could then be made available to local authorities, housing associations, and arm’s-length management organisations (ALMOs) responsible for social housing stock. The idea is that by dissolving departmental silos, landlords can have greater discretion when tackling urgent repairs, long-term maintenance, and property upgrades.

Potential Benefits of a Combined Approach

• Flexibility: Landlords can allocate resources based on local priorities, whether that means improving insulation or addressing structural defects.
• Reduced Bureaucracy: Multiple individual grants and restrictions can hamper urgent repairs; a single fund may simplify application and reporting.
• Better Resident Outcomes: With quicker decision-making, issues such as damp, mould, and heating failures can be rectified faster, vastly improving residents’ day-to-day comfort.
• Energy Efficiency: Budgets can be more easily channelled into sustainability improvements, helping to meet carbon reduction targets.

Below is a quick comparison between the existing fragmented approach to housing funding and the proposed pooled-fund model:

Why Housing Conditions Remain a Priority

The call for a pooled fund comes at a time when social landlords are under scrutiny. High-profile cases of disrepair have drawn attention from regulators, tenant advocacy groups, and politicians. With social housing forming not just a safety net but also a critical part of the wider UK housing system, property condition issues can create a ripple effect of health and social problems.

Additionally, many older homes do not meet current energy efficiency targets, often failing to retain heat effectively. As energy bills rise, tenants can be left in ‘fuel poverty.’ Addressing such conditions requires capital infusion for new technologies and infrastructure improvements—everything from better insulation to window replacements and boiler upgrades.

This initiative underscores the sector’s responsibility to create healthier, warmer, and safer living conditions. Our priority is always the well-being of residents.

How Could Digital Solutions & AI Transform Repairs?

Conventional repairs and maintenance processes can be costly, time-consuming, and stressed by labour shortages. While the proposed pooled fund promises more robust financing, digital solutions—like those offered by Aidenn—can further enhance efficiency and accountability. By diagnosing and triaging issues quickly, social landlords can reduce the burden on maintenance teams and speed up resolution.

Case in Point: Video Triage

Some emerging platforms now provide remote assistance technology. Residents launch an immediate video call with an engineer, who can visually assess the problem. Solutions can often be delivered in real time—from resetting a boiler to diagnosing a faulty circuit. This approach not only cuts down on response times but also ensures that, when contractors do attend, they’re fully equipped with a pre-diagnosed understanding of the issue.

These technologies can be integrated seamlessly via solutions like Help me Fix’s Video Triage, reducing unnecessary call-outs, improving first-time fix rates, and lowering repair costs. For example, an engineer on a video call might notice that a ‘severe leak’ is merely a loose valve. As a result, the contractor’s dispatch becomes a planned appointment rather than an emergency call.

Unlocking Collaboration with a Pooled Fund

One key advantage of the pooled fund is the alignment of budgets with digital transformation efforts. If departments like the Department for Business and Trade or the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology also feed into this finance pool, more funds may be available for research and development in proptech solutions:

1. AI Diagnostics: Funding for sophisticated image recognition and artificial intelligence that can identify common faults from resident-uploaded photos.
2. Online Communication Platforms: Tools that gather repair data, provide scheduling, and offer analytics to housing providers, making reporting to government departments more transparent.
3. Data Sharing Protocols: Collaborative arrangements between local authorities and private vendors, ensuring that the insights gleaned from repairs reduce future costs.

Challenges: Striking the Right Balance

Despite the enthusiasm behind the pooled-fund model, challenges remain:

• Accountability: Ensuring that funds are appropriately ring-fenced for the most pressing repairs and upgrades.
• Scalability: Rolling out advanced diagnostic technology across thousands of properties requires robust infrastructure and training.
• Fair Distribution: Smaller landlords in rural areas might worry about how resources are shared; new governance structures could help reassure them.
• Digital Divide: Some residents may not have the technology or skills to engage with AI-led or digital triage solutions.

In response to these concerns, the proposed scheme includes calls for transparent performance metrics. For instance, local authorities might be required to publish an annual repairs performance report, complete with data on how many residents used remote triage services, total cost savings, and time-to-repair improvements.

Market Outlook: A Turning Point?

According to industry figures, social landlords spent £5.2 billion on maintenance and repairs in 2025. Many experts believe that the introduction of a pooled fund, coupled with streamlined digital solutions, will unlock the potential for more effective spending. By focusing on real-time diagnostics and long-term property condition data, it is possible to see a shift from reactive repairs to proactive, predictive maintenance.

A Timeline for Implementation

While there is no definitive date for when the government might adopt a pooled-fund model, the following estimated timeline helps illustrate the path forward:

1. Q2 2026: Consultations begin with stakeholders—housing associations, local authorities, tech providers.
2. Q4 2026: Draft legislation is introduced, detailing how the fund will be managed and allocated.
3. Early 2027: Pilot programme starts in select regions, evaluating how effectively the pooled fund resolves urgent disrepair.
4. Late 2027: National rollout is considered if pilot results are positive.

The Role of Help me Fix

“A pooled Fund directs more resources into repairs,” says Ettan Bazil, Founder & CEO. “This potential injection of flexible capital aligns well with our digital triage approach; centralised funding combined with strong proptech solutions can help social landlords transform their operations for the better.”

Through platforms like the Remote Engineer Network, issues are diagnosed via live video or AI-driven analysis, allowing local authorities and housing associations to reduce waste and deliver targeted support. As the sector shifts toward more sustainable, proactive strategies, a system that merges flexible funding with leading technology solutions can radically redefine social housing maintenance.

Key Steps for Landlords

• Identify Priority Areas: Start by mapping out common issues—such as leaks, damp, or faulty boilers—to understand where funding is best spent.
• Adopt a Hybrid Approach: While in-person inspections remain crucial, incorporate digital triage options to streamline less complex cases.
• Track Performance: Use data analytics tools to monitor spend, repairs, and carbon savings, demonstrating value to both residents and fund administrators.
• Collaborate: Partner with innovative providers and external agencies to continually improve service delivery.

Looking Ahead

The MPs’ recommendation for a pooled government fund is a strong signal of a more unified approach, not just for addressing immediate disrepair but also for future-proofing homes for low-carbon living. By blending robust financial support with advanced digital solutions, social landlords can achieve faster, more precise interventions and enhance the well-being of tenants across the UK.

Whether or not the pooled-fund model is adopted, there’s consensus that flexible financing, open collaboration, and new technology will be vital for the continued evolution of social housing. In an era of limited resources and rising expectations, efficiency must go hand in hand with empathy—delivering tangible results that improve the day-to-day lives of residents.