Small Housing Provider AI Tips
Practical AI starting points for providers with fewer than 1,000 homes and no internal IT team. From Anne Taylor (CEO, Churcher Thorngate Trust) and Guy Marshall (HAILIE Chair).
"It's not a money thing: if you want to do something, you can find a way to do it."Anne Taylor, CEO, Churcher Thorngate Trust
If you have fewer than 1,000 homes and likely no internal IT team, you can still benefit from AI. Your nimbleness and closeness to residents are major advantages. AI does not need to start with major investment — just a smart use of tools that boost executive bandwidth and support frontline decisions.
Key insights for smaller providers
You may not need a separate AI policy
If your data protection and GDPR policies are strong, AI can often be used safely as just another tool. Do not let lack of policy be a blocker — start small, stay compliant.
Free text data is an untapped resource
If your housing systems are hard to extract from, AI can help. Tools like ChatGPT can generate scripts that unlock your own data — even if your systems are not playing ball.
AI is about capability, not cost
One care provider used AI to discover caffeine was a leading contributor to falls. A switch to decaf reduced falls by 30%. That insight did not require massive investment — just asking the right question of the data.
Be mindful of governance
As tools become more accessible, anyone in your team can use them. Ensure your systems protect data, and decide where AI capability will sit within your organisation. A human must always be accountable.
Start visible, and share progress
Showing you are experimenting — even imperfectly — can build momentum internally and across the sector. Record what you try, and revisit it as your confidence grows. Share it with HAILIE for bonus points.
Getting started: making yourself a personal assistant
Before using any AI tool for work, go to the settings and turn off "improve the model for everyone" or "share data for training" — this means your data is not going outside your organisation.
One of the simplest starting points for a small provider CEO is making yourself a personal AI assistant. Here is a worked example using ChatGPT — the same approach works with Gemini or Microsoft Copilot:
Get a subscription — around £20/month for ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot. All similar in capability for general tasks.
Turn off data sharing — in Settings → Data Controls, disable "improve the model for everyone". Your data stays within your account.
Create a custom assistant — tell it: "I am CEO of [YOUR ORGANISATION]. I would like a personal assistant for my housing association so I can write policy, review documentation and have recommended courses of action suggested."
Add your documents — upload your policies, the latest RSH guidance, compliance documents. The assistant can then answer questions with your specific context in mind.
Apply your expert judgement — you will need to know enough to check the output. If it gets something wrong, correct it. This is similar to how you use Excel or email — you do not fully understand how they work, but you can spot errors.
Never use AI with customers just yet — start with making your own life easier: drafting board reports, researching regulatory updates, creating financial models, drafting policy documents.
Recommended next reading
For general tips on AI tools, the most accessible resource is Ethan Mollick at Wharton Business School: Using AI Right Now — A Quick Guide. It covers deep research, which is particularly valuable and not covered in most introductory guides.
If there is other content you would like on this page, or if you are reading this after September 2025 and it may be out of date, contact guy@housingai.org to request updates.