5 Ways to Start Using AI in Social Housing Without Big Budgets

AI can sound expensive—but getting started doesn’t have to cost the earth. In fact, some of the most useful applications of AI in social housing are free, low-risk, and quick to try.
💡 1. Use ChatGPT to Draft Letters and Reports
Instead of starting from scratch, ask ChatGPT to create a first draft of a tenant letter, board report, or complaint response. It won’t be perfect, but it gives you a solid base to work from—saving time and effort.
📄 2. Summarise Policy Docs or Meeting Notes
Tools like ChatGPT or Notion AI can turn long documents into clear summaries. Great for briefings, handovers, or board packs where you need to get to the point quickly.
💬 3. Automate FAQs with a Simple Chatbot
Start with a small, focused chatbot—perhaps answering common questions about rent payments, repair times, or how to book an appointment. You can build one using platforms like Tidio or Landbot with no coding required.
🛠️ 4. Improve Internal Comms
Use AI to help rephrase updates, newsletter articles, or intranet content in plain English. This helps ensure your messages are understood by all staff, regardless of team or background.
📊 5. Spot Trends in Tenant Feedback
AI text analysis tools can scan tenant comments from surveys or complaints logs to highlight recurring themes. This helps you get ahead of issues without wading through every response manually.
✅ Start Small, Build Confidence
You don’t need a digital transformation team to begin using AI. Pick one area that takes up time but follows a clear pattern—and test an AI tool that supports it. Build your confidence, prove the value, and scale up gradually.
💡 Common Sense AI Takeaway
AI isn’t just for big organisations with big budgets. Start with what you already do—and see where AI can make it faster, smarter, or simpler.