Houseful’s 2023 ESG report outlines its positive contribution to the property industry as a whole

Houseful, the leading software, data and insight business in residential property, which encompasses well-known brands including Zoopla, Alto and Hometrack has shared some key achievements from its 2023 ESG report.

From an environmental perspective, highlights included:

• Leveraging Hometracks’s data to grow its portfolio of energy performance products including its EPC data solution. Over time, this will help improve the quality and energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock
• Launching a dedicated team in Hometrack to focus on climate risks and property decarbonisation. Property decarbonisation is a pressing issue for the UK property industry as a whole, with the UK’s housing stock currently the oldest in Europe and the majority of properties built before 1919
• Reducing Houseful’s energy consumption at its Tower Bridge HQ, resulting in a 25% reduction of Scope 2 emissions

Meanwhile, Houseful has also been working closely with its charity partner Crisis to support its mission of ending homelessness. In 2023, Houseful raised over £70,000 for Crisis, resulting in over 2,000 Crisis members leaving homelessness.

Zoopla’s joint research with Crisis supported their efforts to encourage the Government to increase local housing allowance in line with inflation. These changes were announced in the Autumn statement last year and have positively impacted 1.6 million households.

Finally, Houseful’s employees delivered over 750 hours of career and skill development support to children from low-income families through its partnership with education charity Future Frontiers.

Commenting on the report, Charlie Bryant, CEO at Houseful said:

“We recognise that as a group of well-known brands, Houseful has a responsibility to drive forward positive change in the property industry.

I’m proud of the progress we’ve made as a business in 2023 to move the dial positively, with the results our joint research with Crisis delivered being a particular highlight.”

Matt Downie, CEO at Crisis said:

“We are really grateful for the generosity of Houseful staff in supporting Crisis and proud of the work we’ve conducted together.

“A three-year freeze on housing benefit had devastating consequences, with thousands of people on the lowest incomes priced out of renting. Many households were forced into homelessness.

“Our joint research was critical in demonstrating the positive impact of raising housing benefit levels – and the UK Government’s subsequent decision to do this in the short term will prevent and end homelessness for tens of thousands of households. We will continue to make the case alongside Houseful for the sustained investment needed to maintain housing benefit to cover the cost of rents.”

Read the Houseful ESG Report