The impact of AI on solving Europe’s housing crisis

By Gigi Zappel, CEO and Co-founder at IMMO

Europe’s housing crisis presents significant social and economic challenges. With a rising population and increasing urbanisation, the demand for affordable, quality housing is at an all-time high. Unfortunately, supply has not kept up, resulting in deteriorating living conditions, soaring rent prices, and escalating energy costs. However, not all hope is lost. 

Technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), emerges as a powerful tool to address these pressing issues. Leveraging AI can significantly improve the quality and availability of housing, making it more accessible and sustainable for future generations. 

Here is how AI is being used to tackle Europe’s housing crisis and revolutionise the property sector.

The challenges in the European housing market

One of the most pressing issues faced by the European housing market is the declining standards of privately owned rental properties, which have resulted in poor value for money for renters and escalating energy bills. This situation is particularly dire given the rising cost of living, which further strains the budgets of many households.

A significant portion of the housing stock across Europe is outdated and energy-inefficient. According to a 2022 McKinsey report, 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built, and many of these structures fall short of current living standards, meaning that millions of people are living in homes that are not only uncomfortable but also unsafe.

Additionally, the rental market struggles with a delicate balance between improving housing quality and reducing rental costs. Recent data from the IFS reveals that nearly two-thirds of landlords anticipate raising rents by at least 10% in the next year due to market pressures and rising energy bills. This increase further exacerbates the affordability crisis, pushing more people towards financial instability.

Another critical issue is the inefficiency of legacy management systems that dominate the housing sector. These outdated systems create substantial operational inefficiencies, making it challenging to manage properties effectively and respond to renters' needs promptly. As a result, both service levels and housing quality have suffered.

To address these challenges, a significant overhaul of the current systems and practices is needed. This is where AI and other emerging technologies can play a pivotal role, providing innovative solutions to streamline processes, improve property management, and enhance the overall quality of housing.

Leveraging AI in property management and investment

Artificial intelligence is proving to be a transformative force in the real estate sector, particularly in addressing the complex challenges associated with property management and investment. Here is how its contributing to solving Europe’s housing crisis:

Streamlining property acquisitions

The process of identifying suitable property leads for acquisitions has traditionally been labor-intensive and time-consuming. AI technologies, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, revolutionise this process by automating the analysis and filtering of property listings. These AI-driven systems ingest vast amounts of data, quantifying relevant factors such as location, price, and condition, and then filtering out unsuitable leads. IMMO stands out as the first in the industry to have exclusive access to OpenAI’s beta features, allowing for the harnessing of GPT 4 Vision API in revolutionising software development processes. 

These tools aid in code understanding and debugging, enhancing development speed and quality, significantly reducing the manual labor involved and therefore enabling property investors to focus on high-potential leads more efficiently and effectively. This AI-driven solution has already resulted in a 30% reduction in manual labor, saving countless hours each week.

Enhancing property valuations

Accurately estimating rental yields and finding comparable properties is a critical yet challenging task in real estate investment. Traditional methods rely heavily on manual labor and are often prone to inefficiencies and inaccuracies. Tools like IMMO’s CompsAI leverage advanced AI algorithms to streamline this process. By automatically identifying the most relevant comparable properties, CompsAI significantly reduces the time and effort required for this crucial analysis. This not only speeds up the decision-making process but also ensures more accurate rental yield estimations, helping investors and landlords make better-informed decisions and maximise their returns.

Improving due diligence and risk assessment

Conducting thorough due diligence is essential for successful property investment. This process involves a detailed review of legal documents, financial records, and other pertinent information to identify potential risks. AI technologies can greatly enhance this process by automating the analysis of these documents. AI tools can scan title documents, legal artifacts, and financial records to identify potential red flags, such as restrictive covenants, historic status concerns, and other legal risks. This automation not only speeds up the due diligence process but also ensures a higher degree of accuracy, reducing the likelihood of costly oversights.

Going forward…

The European housing crisis demands innovative solutions, and AI offers a powerful tool to address this pressing issue. From streamlining property acquisitions to optimising property management, AI is reshaping the way we approach housing, ensuring that it meets the needs of today’s renters, landlords, and investors.

Prioritising the retrofitting of existing housing stock and enhancing rental property quality can address the housing crisis and promote environmental sustainability. By harnessing AI-driven solutions, we can create a housing market that is profitable, sustainable, and renter-centric, ultimately improving living standards and well-being across Europe.