Smoke and CO alarms are no longer enough. As housing regulations evolve—especially with the introduction of Awaab’s Law—landlords need smarter, more...
Vericon’s Ecosystem Goes Beyond Smoke & CO for Awaab’s Law Compliance
read more
Awaab’s Law: New Updates Every Social Landlord Needs to Know
Awaab’s Law is moving from headline news to operational reality, with the government releasing updated draft guidance and the 2025 regulations that finally clarify what’s expected of social landlords. If you’re responsible for damp, mould, or hazard management in social housing, these changes are more than just administrative—they represent a fundamental shift in what “best practice” looks like.
Visit our Awaab’s Law Page here.
At Vericon, we know compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about protecting residents, reputations, and budgets. Here’s how the latest updates affect you—and how we can help.
How Vericon Supports Landlords at Every Step
Real-Time Damp & Mould Detection:
Our analytics do more than simply flag a problem: they quantify risk and identify causality, ensuring you meet statutory requirements and put an end to recurring cases.
Automated Tracking Deadlines:
From day one, when the clock starts ticking, we create a full date- and time-stamped audit log, along with any photographic evidence captured during surveys. This validates compliance and can be included in your resident correspondence to demonstrate you are actively managing their issues.
Clear Resident Communication:
Simplify and validate your resident communication by including a date- and time-stamped audit log and any photographs captured during the process. Where HomeHub is fitted, this communication and future updates can be accessed via the in-property 7-inch screen.
Guidance and Best Practice:
Our Awaab’s Law landing page and BREATHE EASY guide break down the rules and provide practical, actionable steps for your team.
The 2025 Rule Changes
And How Vericon Keeps You Compliant
Inspections Within 10 Working Days
The Rule:
Inspect any reported or detected hazard within 10 working days.
The Risk:
Tighter timescales increase the risk of missed or late inspections and regulatory breaches.
How Vericon Helps:
Let us take control from day one. Our real-time damp and mould risk management uses causality analytics and photographic evidence to pinpoint the cause of risk—often before a resident needs to complain. Automated workflows schedule and track inspections the moment an alert is raised, ensuring you never miss a regulatory deadline. After your investigation, you’ll have the data and evidence to provide a clear summary of findings to the resident.
**By October 2025, you’ll need systems that can triage risk, schedule and track every inspection, and securely store evidence and notes from every visit.**
Repairs Must Begin Within 5 Working Days
The Rule:
Repairs must start within 5 working days of confirming a health-related hazard.
The Risk:
Shorter timescales make contractor coordination and documentation business-critical.
How Vericon Helps:
Our platform logs all confirmed hazards and instantly notifies your maintenance teams. Progress—including photo evidence and install updates—is tracked on a central dashboard, providing real-time validation of work completed. No more “slipped through the cracks”—your teams have instant access to the data they need to keep repairs on track.
**By October 2025, you’ll need systems that track repairs, store photographic evidence, and maintain a full repair history—ready for audit at any time.**
Written Summary to Resident Within 3 Working Days
The Rule:
After any inspection, you must provide a written summary to the resident within 3 working days.
The Risk:
Communication failures are now compliance failures.
How Vericon Helps:
Vericon captures and organises all inspection findings, next steps, and timescales in clear, exportable formats—so you can create your written summary with ease. All inspection content and findings are shared with the housing provider via a Vericon report and available on your online dashboard. This information can be shared with residents, ensuring they’re kept updated and know how to stay safe.
**By October 2025, you’ll need to generate plain-language resident reports within 48 hours and log all resident communications.**
Emergency Hazards—Action Within 24 Hours
The Rule:
Emergencies require attendance and action within 24 hours.
The Risk:
There is no margin for error—delays create immediate risk for residents and your organisation.
How Vericon Helps:
Our 24/7 monitoring flags emergencies in real time. Escalation protocols alert your response teams instantly, with incident logs, quantified risk ratings, and timestamps ready for audit or legal defence. Crucially, our causality analytics identify the root cause—helping you prevent repeat issues.
Complex Works—Start Within 12 Weeks
The Rule:
Where works can’t begin within 5 days due to structural complexity or access, they must commence within 12 weeks.
The Risk:
Ambiguity around “complex works” puts the onus on robust documentation and transparent processes.
How Vericon Helps:
From the moment complex work is identified, real-time monitoring provides pre- and post-works data—validating progress and completion. Every case is fully logged, with all communications, actions, and scheduled works stored securely in one place. This information can be shared with residents, ensuring they’re kept updated and know how to stay safe.
**By October 2025, you’ll need to store full case records—including evidence, communications, and follow-up—securely for at least six years.**
What the Experts Are Saying
Recent analysis from Clyde & Co highlights the impact: for the first time, the law sets enforceable timeframes for resolving hazards in social housing, with penalties for non-compliance. Residents can now bring claims for breach of these legal duties, and landlords will need to prove not only that hazards were addressed, but that every step—from investigation to communication—was done on time and by the book.
Are You Ready for October 2025?
- The new law is clear: by October, every landlord must have systems that can:
- Triage risk at first contact
- Automatically track inspections
- Store photo evidence, inspection notes, and full repair history
- Generate plain-language resident reports within 48 hours
- Log education and follow-up for unresolved or recurring cases
- Store all records securely, accessible for a minimum of 6 years
Our technology is built for the future—giving you the tools, data, and evidence to not only comply, but to lead on safety and resident engagement.
Explore our Awaab’s Law landing page and download the BREATHE EASY guide to get ahead of the changes.
Ready to talk about a compliance solution tailored to your portfolio? Contact Vericon today.
Why Social Housing Needs a Transformative Overhaul
Why Social Housing Needs a Transformative Overhaul—and How Data-Driven Solutions Like MouldSense Can Help
Complaints about substandard living conditions in England’s social housing have soared by 474% in just five years (Housing Ombudsman Spotlight Report, 2025). The Housing Ombudsman is now calling for a transformative overhaul, urging the sector to put residents’ wellbeing first and embrace smarter, more proactive ways of working.
A Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight
Behind every number is a real story—a family living with damp, mould, or endless repair delays. In 2023, an estimated 1.5 million children in England lived in a non-decent home, nearly one in five of those in social housing. This is not just a housing problem; it’s a public health and social justice issue (Local Government Lawyer, 2025).
Despite record spending—£9bn on repairs and maintenance last year—the outcomes are not matching the investment. The Ombudsman highlighted £3.4 million paid in compensation for poor living conditions in the past year alone, with 72% of complaints identified as poor practice. The root causes range from patchwork fixes to poor record keeping and a lack of proactive intervention.
Why a Culture Shift and Predictive Maintenance Are Essential
The Ombudsman’s recommendations are clear: we need a cultural shift, not just more box-ticking. Landlords should move from reactive to predictive maintenance, treat residents as individuals rather than “stock”, and strengthen communication and accountability at every level.
This is where technology comes into its own—giving landlords the tools to anticipate problems, intervene promptly, and rebuild trust with residents.
MouldSense: Proactive Damp and Mould Protection
At Vericon Systems, we believe tackling damp and mould requires real-time insight and action. MouldSense is our dedicated solution designed specifically for social landlords. It provides continuous monitoring of key environmental conditions in the home, alerting you to issues before they escalate. This enables rapid, targeted interventions that protect resident health and avoid the cycle of repeat complaints.
With MouldSense, landlords can:
- Proactively identify properties at risk of damp and mould
- Act swiftly to resolve issues before they affect residents’ health
- Demonstrate compliance with new legislation such as Awaab’s Law
- Reduce unnecessary callouts and disruption
- Build a defensible, auditable record for every intervention
To support housing providers, we’ve created a comprehensive guide explaining your legal obligations around damp and mould—and how MouldSense helps you meet them. Download your copy here: Breathe Easy: Your Essential Guide to Awaab’s Law Compliance.
Leading the Change
The Ombudsman’s call for change is about more than fixing leaks—it’s about restoring dignity and safety to every home. MouldSense gives housing providers the evidence, insight, and confidence to move from reactive repairs to proactive, resident-focused management.
Let’s not wait for the next headline. If you’re ready to protect your residents and stay ahead of the law, we’re here to help.
Discover more about MouldSense and download your free guide to compliance today.
How 170,000 English Homes Are Getting Smarter
The government’s recent £1.8 billion Warm Homes Plan announcement marks a watershed moment for social housing in England. With 170,000 homes set to benefit from energy efficiency upgrades, housing providers face a critical question: how can they ensure these improvements deliver lasting impact?
At Vericon Systems, we’re already working with successful Wave 3 bid recipients to enhance their retrofit programmes through smart technology integration. Our approach doesn’t just meet Wave 3 objectives—it exceeds them, creating homes that are warmer, healthier, and genuinely future-proof.
Tackling Fuel Poverty Head-On
While traditional retrofits provide the foundation for energy efficiency, smart monitoring transforms how we identify and support vulnerable residents. Our Connect platform tracks energy usage in real-time, allowing housing providers to:
- Spot struggling households before crisis points
- Verify that retrofit works actually reduce energy bills
- Target support where it’s needed most
- Provide evidence-based intervention strategies
The Carbon Challenge
The path to Net Zero 2050 requires more than just better insulation. Our integrated approach combines multiple technologies to deliver measurable results:
- Smart thermostats and our innovative Boiler Control Module achieve up to 22% energy savings
- AutoFill technology reduces engineer callouts by 60%, cutting both costs and carbon emissions
- Real-time performance monitoring ensures retrofit measures maintain peak efficiency
Protecting Resident Welfare
With Awaab’s Law coming into force in October 2025, housing providers face new responsibilities around damp and mould. Our environmental monitoring systems offer a proactive solution, while HomeHub keeps residents engaged and informed about their newly upgraded homes.
Making Wave 3 Funding Work Harder
The £1.29 billion allocated through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity. But success requires more than just installing new equipment—it demands a strategic approach to monitoring, maintenance, and resident engagement.
Our integrated solution helps housing providers:
- Monitor retrofit performance in real-time
- Identify additional energy-saving opportunities
- Maintain healthy living environments
- Keep residents informed and engaged
- Demonstrate tangible outcomes to stakeholders
Looking Beyond 2025
As the sector moves toward EPC C targets by 2030, today’s retrofit decisions will have long-lasting implications. Smart technology isn’t just an add-on—it’s essential infrastructure that ensures your Wave 3 investment delivers sustained benefits for years to come.
The government’s commitment to warmer, more efficient homes is clear. Now it’s time for housing providers to match this ambition with smart, future-proof implementation strategies.
Ready to Maximise Your Wave 3 Funding?
Let’s discuss how Vericon Systems can help you deliver a retrofit programme that doesn’t just meet current requirements but sets new standards for social housing. With the right technology partner, your Wave 3 funding can do more than just warm homes—it can transform them.
To learn more or to discuss how our secure IoT solutions can benefit your organisation, contact our team today on 01242 582 555 or email [email protected]
The Surveyor Cube: Instant Compliance Monitoring for Awaab’s Law
In the evolving landscape of social housing compliance, data has become the cornerstone of effective property management. As we approach the October 2025 deadline for Awaab’s Law implementation, the Surveyor Cube emerges as a pioneering solution that transforms how housing providers approach their compliance obligations.
The Surveyor Cube stands out with two game-changing capabilities: lightning-fast installation and immediate data delivery.
From Box to Active Monitoring in Minutes
Gone are the days of complex installation processes and technical specialists. The Surveyor Cube revolutionises property monitoring with true plug-and-play simplicity. Within minutes of unboxing, any member of your team can install the device and begin receiving valuable environmental data. No specialist tools, no technical expertise, and no disruption to your residents’ daily lives—just straightforward, immediate implementation.
Instant Data, Immediate Compliance
The moment your Surveyor Cube powers up, it begins delivering crucial environmental data. There’s no waiting period, no complex setup, and no delay in monitoring capabilities. This immediate activation means you’re instantly collecting the evidence needed for Awaab’s Law compliance, including:
- Real-time temperature and humidity readings
- Continuous environmental monitoring
- Instant alerts for concerning conditions
- Automated compliance documentation
Transforming Data into Actionable Intelligence
What truly sets the Surveyor Cube apart is its ability to transform complex environmental data into clear, actionable insights. The system’s advanced machine learning algorithms analyse patterns and trends across your property portfolio, enabling predictive maintenance strategies that can significantly reduce the risk of damp and mould development. This predictive capability allows housing providers to move beyond reactive maintenance to a more proactive approach, ensuring compliance with Awaab’s Law’s stringent requirements.
Comprehensive Compliance Documentation
In the context of Awaab’s Law, documentation is crucial. The Surveyor Cube and the Vericon platfrom automatically generates detailed compliance reports, maintaining a comprehensive record of environmental conditions, interventions, and outcomes. This automated documentation ensures housing providers can demonstrate their commitment to maintaining healthy living environments whilst meeting regulatory requirements.
Future-Proofed Technology
As regulatory requirements continue to evolve, the Surveyor Cube evolves with them. Regular over-the-air updates ensure the system remains at the forefront of compliance technology. These updates not only enhance existing capabilities but also introduce new features as requirements change, protecting your investment and ensuring long-term compliance.
Strategic Resource Management
The Surveyor Cube’s intelligent monitoring capabilities enable more efficient resource allocation. By identifying high-risk properties and predicting potential issues, housing providers can prioritise maintenance activities and allocate resources more effectively. This strategic approach not only improves compliance but also optimises operational efficiency and reduces costs.
The Surveyor Cube represents more than just a compliance solution—it’s a strategic investment in the future of property management. By combining sophisticated monitoring capabilities with unprecedented ease of use, it enables housing providers to exceed regulatory requirements whilst improving resident satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Ready to transform your approach to property monitoring and Awaab’s Law compliance?
Contact our team today on 01242 582 555 or email [email protected]
Together, we can make a significant impact in improving damp & mould management and ensuring a better future for social housing.
Breaking Down Awaab’s Law: What Social Housing Providers Need to Know
Government Announces Comprehensive Timeline for Awaab’s Law Implementation
In a landmark announcement yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, outlined the government’s detailed implementation plan, marking a transformative moment for social housing safety standards in England.
The announcement comes at a critical time, with recent English Housing Survey data revealing that 7% of social rented homes suffered from damp problems and 4% contained the most dangerous ‘category 1’ hazards in 2023. These statistics underscore the urgent need for systematic change in housing safety management.
Phased Implementation of Awaab’s Law: A Strategic Approach
The government has outlined a clear, three-stage implementation timeline for Awaab’s Law:
Phase 1 – October 2025
Under Awaab’s Law, social landlords will be required to address damp and mould hazards presenting significant health risks within fixed timescales. Importantly, emergency repairs – whether related to damp and mould or other hazards – must be addressed within 24 hours.
Phase 2 – 2026
The scope will expand to encompass additional critical hazards, including:
- Excess cold and heat
- Fall risks
- Structural collapse
- Fire and electrical hazards
- Hygiene-related issues
Phase 3 – 2027
Full implementation of Awaab’s Law covering all remaining hazards as defined by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
Technology’s Role in Awaab’s Law Compliance
For housing providers and property management organisations, this phased approach offers a crucial window to adapt and enhance their systems and processes. At Vericon Systems, we understand that technology will play a pivotal role in helping social landlords meet these new requirements efficiently and effectively.
The legislation mandates not just repairs within set timeframes but also emphasises the need for proper investigation, documentation, and communication with tenants. Our property management solutions are designed to support housing providers in:
- Tracking and monitoring hazard reports in real-time
- Managing repair timeframes to meet statutory requirements
- Maintaining comprehensive documentation for compliance
- Facilitating effective communication between tenants and landlords
Richard Blakeway, Housing Ombudsman, said: “We welcome these new measures to provide further protections for renters living in hazardous conditions and its extension to private landlords.
“It is a basic human right to live in a safe and decent home. This law is an important step towards helping the millions of people who do not – including 1 million children”
Beyond Awaab’s Law Implementation
The Deputy Prime Minister’s statement also outlined additional forthcoming reforms, including:
- A new Decent Homes Standard consultation
- Mandatory five-year electrical safety checks
- New information access requirements for registered providers
- Enhanced standards for staff competence and conduct
Preparing for Awaab’s Law Changes
Whilst October 2025 may seem distant, the complexity of these requirements means housing providers should begin preparing now. The government’s emphasis on existing duties remains clear – social landlords must continue meeting their current obligations regarding property safety and habitability.
For organisations managing social housing portfolios, now is the time to evaluate current systems and processes. The right technology infrastructure will be crucial in meeting these new regulatory requirements whilst maintaining efficient operations.
Supporting the Sector Through Awaab’s Law Transition
At Vericon Systems, we’re committed to supporting social housing providers through this transition. Our solutions are being enhanced to align with the specific requirements of Awaab’s Law, ensuring our clients are well-positioned to meet their new obligations effectively.
The implementation of this new regulation represents more than just regulatory compliance – it’s about ensuring safe, healthy homes for millions of residents. As we move towards these significant changes, we stand ready to partner with social housing providers in creating better, safer homes for all.
Would you like to find out more?
For more information about how Vericon Systems can help your organisation prepare for Awaab’s Law implementation, contact our team today on 01242 582 555 or email [email protected]
Together, we can make a significant impact in combating fuel poverty and ensuring a better future for social housing.
Maximising Wave 3 Funding Success: How Real-Time Data Drives Better Retrofit Outcomes
Executive Summary
Housing providers who have applied for Wave 3 funding will soon receive their allocations, with project delivery commencing April 2025.
As organisations prepare to implement ambitious retrofit programmes, the ability to monitor, measure and optimise these improvements becomes critical. This article explores how IoT-enabled monitoring solutions can help housing providers maximise their Wave 3 investment, ensure successful project delivery, and create lasting benefits for residents through data-driven decision making.
With Wave 3 funding decisions imminent and grant claims set to begin from 1st April 2025, successful housing providers need to prepare for effective project delivery. As organisations gear up to implement their retrofit strategies, the role of data-driven decision making becomes crucial.
Making Every Pound Count
For housing providers awaiting their Wave 3 allocation, preparation is key. Vericon Systems’ IoT solutions ensure that once funding is received, every pound delivers maximum impact through precise monitoring and optimisation.
Smart Solutions for Project Success
Our comprehensive monitoring suite includes:
- Smart Heating Analytics: Our Heating and Environmental Pack combines boiler/ASHP monitoring with environmental sensors, tracking both system performance and living conditions.
- Energy Intelligence: PowerSense delivers granular energy consumption data, helping quantify retrofit savings in real terms.
- Environmental Monitoring: The Surveyor Cube provides room-by-room insights into temperature and humidity, protecting both buildings and residents
- Unified Analytics: Our Connect platform turns raw data into actionable insights, helping optimise retrofit strategies and maintain performance.
Maximising Project Outcomes
With project delivery running until September 2028, housing providers need robust monitoring systems to track and demonstrate success.
Vericon’s solutions provide the comprehensive data needed to:
- Document baseline performance before works begin
- Track improvements throughout the retrofit process
- Demonstrate successful outcomes to stakeholders
- Build evidence for future funding rounds
Beyond Monitoring: Creating Lasting Impact
The journey to better social housing doesn’t end with installation. Our systems continue delivering value long after retrofits are complete, helping providers:
- Fine-tune heating systems for maximum efficiency
- Identify properties at risk of damp and mould
- Support residents in reducing energy costs
- Plan maintenance proactively rather than reactively
Preparing for Success
With £1.29 billion allocated for Wave 3 projects, successful housing providers need to ensure their delivery strategies are robust and data-driven. Vericon’s monitoring solutions help organisations maximise the impact of their funding allocation while delivering lasting benefits to residents.
Ready to enhance your Wave 3 project delivery with smart monitoring?
Contact our team to learn how Vericon’s solutions can support your retrofit success story.
Would you like to find out more?
For more information about how Vericon can benefit your housing projects call 01242 582 555 or email [email protected]
Together, we can make a significant impact in combating fuel poverty and ensuring a better future for social housing.