Following the resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister and a subsequent cabinet reshuffle, Steve Reed OBE was appointed Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 5 September 2025.
The former Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs issued a “call to arms” in his first week as Housing Secretary, instructing key developers and housebuilders to ramp up housebuilding.
He said: “I want us to build, baby, build, so we can put the key to a decent home into the hands of every single family that needs it.”
We spoke to our Managing Director, Peter Luck, to get his reaction to the recent announcement, and asked what he wants Steve Reed OBE to prioritise in his new role.
Peter Luck identified the following key areas of focus he would like to see improvements in.
Policy & strategy
✅ Long-term investment in digital transformation for housing providers, particularly in repairs and maintenance technology.
✅ Support for integrated technology solutions in social housing to streamline services, reduce costs and improve tenant outcomes.
✅ Clear national direction and funding towards achieving Net Zero targets, encouraging housing tech providers to innovate in sustainability.
Technology enablement
✅ Encourage API-first, open platform mandates across housing IT systems to improve integration and reduce supplier lock-in.
✅ Mandate real-time data accessibility across landlord, contractor and tenant touchpoints, enabling full service transparency and automation.
✅ Funding and incentives for the adoption of AI-driven solutions that tackle challenges like staff burnout, planning inefficiencies and resource allocation.
Workforce & innovation
✅ Promote digital upskilling across the housing sector workforce to ensure new technologies are embedded successfully.
✅ Support for apprenticeship pathways and skills progression in the housing tech sector.
✅ Introduce funding to develop and scale automated scheduling and predictive analytics systems that enable right-first-time repair visits.
Security, data & compliance
✅ Enforce stronger cybersecurity and resilience standards for housing sector software, including requirements for UK-based, G-Cloud-compliant cloud infrastructure.
✅ Drive clarity around GDPR and data protection responsibilities, supporting a secure data sharing environment between authorities and software providers.
Accountability & performance
✅ Promote policies that tie contract performance to digital KPIs, such as job completion rates, first-time fix rates and tenant satisfaction.
✅ Encourage transparent public reporting of repairs data and service levels enabled by modern BI platforms like those provided by ROCC.
Peter Luck commented: “The housing sector is at a crossroads. Technology must be at the forefront of any reform agenda.
“We need bold, strategic investment in digital solutions that reduce costs, empower frontline staff and transform the resident experience.
“I urge the new Housing Secretary to prioritise open integration, AI-driven automation and long-term digital infrastructure to unlock real change.”
Image: Steven Reed ©House of Commons
