We’re Up & Running in the UK

Four years ago, at the Housing Finance Conference in Liverpool, a simple but ambitious question sparked our UK journey:

With over 30 years of experience in financial planning software for Dutch housing associations, can we deliver similar value internationally?

There were some key considerations to review before a decision could be made.

• Are UK housing associations comparable to their Dutch counterparts?
• Do they face the same business planning challenges?
• Is regulation aligned?
• And how competitive is the UK landscape?

These questions may seem straightforward at first glance, but they are complex and need careful evaluation. They can't be answered quickly or through desk research alone.

Listening before building

We recognised that establishing trust, leveraging local expertise, and actively engaging with professionals would be essential if we were to succeed in the UK. We invested in developing a robust UK network and engaged with Financial Planning & Analysis teams throughout the sector.

After more than 30 in-depth interviews, a clear picture began to emerge:

While the regulatory environment and context differed, the core challenges were remarkably similar to the Netherlands. UK housing associations also struggled with complex planning processes, heavy spreadsheet dependency, and limited flexibility in existing tools.

The need for better solutions was clear and widely recognized. However, launching in the UK involves far more than simply translating content.

Built with UK housing associations, for the UK

In order to achieve meaningful impact, we established a collaborative partnership with five UK housing associations and conducted an in-depth analysis. Together, we examined the key challenges including:

• What exactly does the regulator require?
• How do UK-specific elements like shared ownership, revolving credit facilities, intercompany transactions and grants work in practice?
• Where in the planning process can we improve efficiency and data quality?
• And how can we deliver a solution that meaningfully outperforms the tools currently in use?

By progressing from one pilot to the next, learning quickly and iterating continuously, we were able to demonstrate the power of a data-driven approach. Using our Agile release process enabled us to close gaps quickly and validate UK-specific functionality in close collaboration with our partners.

Just as importantly, we received early testimonials that provided tangible evidence of our contributions and demonstrated measurable impact.

Delivering real value

Our UK solution helps finance teams achieve:

• One source of truth
  Fewer spreadsheets, less errors and greater confidence in the numbers
• Instant scenario analysis
  Understand financial impacts in seconds, not days
• Insight at UPRN level
  Higher-quality outcomes with significantly less manual effort
• Alignment and transparency
  Consistent assumptions across every report, stakeholder and scenario

UK ready, and just getting started

In March, we showcased our solution WALS at the Housing Finance 2026 conference in Liverpool. Connecting with industry leaders, we were able to demonstrate how WALS boosts financial clarity and efficiency. Our stand sparked engaging, insightful conversations and reinforced our commitment to empowering housing associations.

Today, we are proud to say: we are UK ready.

With more than 30 years of experience building bespoke planning solutions for housing associations, we are confident our approach can make a real difference in the UK. We are excited to continue this journey, building our UK team, strengthening partnerships and sharing best practices and lessons learned across borders.

The UK launch is not the finish line. It’s just the start.

Curious about what WALS can do for your financial and business planning?

Discover the possibilities today, book a personalized demo to see firsthand how WALS can streamline your processes, increase transparency, and empower your team. Visit our dedicated webpage to schedule your session and take the next step toward financial clarity.

Transform your business planning process

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More on financial and business planning for housing associations

• Unlocking Rent Convergence: Why UPRN Level Insight Is Essential 
• Dutch Social Housing Finance Under Pressure
• Quarterly Economic Outlook for UK Housing Associations