Code encounters: algorithmic risk-profiling in housing

This project will examine the societal impact of algorithmic risk-profiling tools used by lenders and landlords.

Housing decisions are made with the help of algorithmic tools as a way for lenders and landlords to mitigate risk. Credit scoring in the mortgage market and automated tenant screening tools are increasingly commonplace. However, there is little understanding about the societal impact of these human-tech encounters. Questions have been raised over the construction of these technologies, whether they are understood by applicants or service users and if they embed bias into their decision making. Despite this lack of knowledge these tools have become further entrenched in our society and systems.

The research team will be addressing this knowledge gap by conducting the first UK examination of housing risk-profiling technologies. The project will be conducted in two phases:

1. Scoping the field by conducting a literature review and appraisal of available products. This will build upon existing research and utilise a variety of sources such as privacy policies, internet searches and academic literature.
2. Developing qualitative insight by building a dataset of 120 interviews. These will be conducted with a variety of stakeholders and will help build an understanding of risk-profiling tools.

The completion of the two phases of work will help to progress our understanding of how these tools are constructed, the motivation for their use, how they are used in the housing market, how users interact with them and any policy or practice implications.

Targeting a variety of different stakeholders will help the project have as big an impact as possible. Social housing providers, trade organisations, landlords, mortgage lenders, regulators, financial services and the general public will all be considered. Each stakeholder will receive a variety of outputs including reports, short articles, infographics, talking head videos and academic papers. These will be accompanied by engagement activities to ensure that the research findings contribute to the debate within policy and practice networks and ultimately achieve tangible change.