Session Overview

Housing conditions are under intense scrutiny, but the data we rely on is often partial, inconsistent or misunderstood. This session will dig into what we really know about the condition of social housing stock, how it has changed over time, and how it compares internationally while also asking whether issues like damp and mould are genuinely increasing, and how far gaps in local data limit our understanding.

Key takeaways

By the end of this session, participants will:

• What we do – and don’t – know about housing conditions in social housing
• How data on stock condition has changed over time
• How the condition of UK social housing compares with other countries
• Whether problems like damp and mould are really increasing
• How much we truly know about local housing stock – and the limits of current data and surveys

About our Speakers

Tom Calver – Data Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times

Tom Calver is the Data Editor of The Times and The Sunday Times, where he leads a ten-strong team of data reporters and developers and writes a weekly data column, Go Figure. He was named Data Journalist of the Year by the Wincott Foundation in 2023 and featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2020.

Tom began his career at Which? and BBC News before joining The Times in 2019, and is widely recognised for making complex data accessible, engaging and relevant to real-world decisions.

Chaired by
Dr Rob Rowlands – Curator of Curiosity & DIN Researcher in Residence
Rob is DIN’s Researcher in Residence and a thinking leader who helps organisations turn evidence into actionable insight, equipping teams to make confident, practical decisions and deliver meaningful impact. With around three decades’ experience working in and around housing, he understands how research needs to fit the real world—messy, pressured and full of competing priorities. (www.robrowlands.co.uk)

Who should attend

This session is ideal for:

• Senior leaders and board members who need a clear, evidence-based view of poverty and housing conditions in modern Britain
• Professionals working in housing, local government, welfare, social policy or community services
• Strategy, insight, data and research leads looking to deepen their understanding of poverty metrics and stock condition data
• Anyone who wants to move beyond headlines and myths to a more nuanced, data-informed picture of how people are living today

Delegate fees

Free for DIN members to attend as part of your subscription.