In less than a month, Awaab’s Law comes into force. For social housing providers across the UK, this marks the start of a new legal duty to act...
The Clock is Ticking: Meeting Awaab’s Law Compliance in Time
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How to Get Residents on Board with IoT Connected Technology
In the age of smart technology, IoT devices are changing how we manage and maintain our homes. For social housing providers, IoT technology offers a proactive approach to maintaining property conditions, ensuring safety, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. However, despite its numerous benefits, the term “monitoring” often carries negative connotations, leading to concerns over privacy and trust.
Housing providers should educate residents on the benefits of IoT technology, highlighting how it can significantly improve their living conditions while safeguarding their privacy.
Understanding the Benefits of IoT Technology
Boiler Performance Monitoring
Predictive Maintenance: Our IoT technology continuously monitors the performance of boilers to predict potential breakdowns. This proactive approach ensures that residents are not left without heating and hot water, especially during the colder months. By identifying issues before they become major problems, timely repairs can be arranged, minimising inconvenience and discomfort.
Vericon’s BCM (Boiler Control Module) continuously monitors the performance of boilers to predict potential breakdowns. Learn more about the BCM.
Environmental Condition Monitoring
Damp and Mould Prevention
By monitoring humidity levels and other environmental conditions, our technology helps in predicting and preventing damp and mould issues. This not only preserves the structural integrity of the property but also ensures a healthier living environment for residents. Additionally, it allows for the monitoring of retrofit work to ensure it effectively improves living conditions.
Vericon’s Surveyor Cube monitors humidity levels and other environmental conditions to help predict and prevent damp and mould issues. Learn more about the Surveyor Cube.
Energy Consumption Monitoring
Cost Savings
Monitoring power usage enables housing providers to identify areas with high energy consumption. By implementing energy-saving measures, significant cost savings on utility bills can be achieved. This not only benefits the housing provider but also reduces the financial burden on residents, making their homes more affordable to live in. Additionally, fuel poverty or restricting the use of a boiler can directly impact environmental conditions, increasing the risk of damp and mould.
Vericon’s PowerSense monitors power usage, enabling housing providers to identify areas with high energy consumption. Learn more about PowerSense.
Pressure Fault Prevention
Automated Maintenance
One of the most common reasons for residents to contact the helpdesk is due to under-pressure boiler faults. Our IoT technology offers automated top-ups, real-time notifications, and preventative maintenance to avoid these issues. This ensures that residents are not left without heating or hot water, providing peace of mind and reducing the need for emergency engineer visits.
Vericon’s AutoFill offers automated top-ups, real-time notifications, and preventative maintenance to avoid these issues. Learn more about AutoFill.
Addressing Privacy Concerns
One of the primary concerns residents may have is the fear of being constantly monitored. It is crucial to communicate that our IoT technology does not involve any audio or video recording. It is not a “Big Brother” scenario but rather a system designed to enhance their living experience by preventing issues before they occur.
Building Trust in the Technology and Housing Provider
To successfully implement IoT technology, trust needs to be established not only in the technology itself but also in the social housing provider responsible for its installation.
Transparent Communication:
Clearly explain the purpose of the technology and how it works. Transparency is key to building trust. Provide detailed information on what data is collected, how it is used, and the measures in place to ensure privacy and security.
Education and Awareness
Organise workshops, informational sessions, and distribute educational materials to help residents understand the benefits of IoT technology. Use real-life examples and success stories to illustrate how the technology has positively impacted other residents.
Highlighting Investment
The social housing provider should actively showcase their new investment in IoT technology through press releases, online articles, and community newsletters. By publicly demonstrating their commitment to improving residents’ living conditions, they can build trust and show that they are investing in the well-being of their residents.
Customer Support and Feedback
Provide robust customer support through the housing provider to address any concerns or questions residents may have. Encourage feedback which can then be passed on to improve future developments.
Getting residents on board with IoT-connected technology requires a combination of education, transparency, and trust-building. By clearly communicating the benefits, addressing privacy concerns, and involving the community in the process, housing providers can ensure that residents see IoT technology as a valuable tool that enhances their living conditions rather than an intrusive monitoring system.
Together, we can create a smarter, safer, and more comfortable living environment for all.
Would you like to find out more?
Contact Vericon today to discover how our cutting-technology can improve your maintenance strategy, protect your investment and improve the quality of life of your residents.
Complete the form on this page and we will be in contact, alternatively please get in contact us by calling 01242 582 555.
Community Learning Is Bringing Artificial Intelligence To Life
Vericon is transforming the social housing industry through the utilisation of Community Learning and AI to support housing providers in proactive maintenance. Regardless of the size of their housing portfolios, social housing providers can reap the benefits of Vericon Systems’ innovative approach.
Unlocking the Power of AI Through Community Learning
To fully utilise AI’s capabilities, an extensive data pool is crucial. By using a unique technique that we call “Community Learning”, our advanced AI is available to all housing providers that use our connected devices.
How Community Learning Works
Created by Vericon, Community Learning allows our system to access and analyse anonymised data taken directly from our cloud portal. It uses data provided by all our clients, therefore improving risk detection, preventative measures, process management, and communication with residents.
Real-Time Monitoring for Smarter Maintenance
Our AI continuously monitors and gathers data on factors such as energy consumption, temperature, humidity, boiler performance, and occupancy patterns. This allows our system to identify patterns and irregularities that may indicate potential maintenance issues.
“Housing associations are heading towards proactive maintenance rather than constantly being reactive…”
Luke McCreery Director of Property Maintenance and Building Safety | CURO
Scalable Solutions for Every Portfolio
Our AI algorithms are adaptable and scalable, catering to housing portfolios of any magnitude, be it a single building or a large housing estate. The system effectively analyses data and offers insightful predictive maintenance recommendations.
The Benefits of Predictive Maintenance
The utilisation of AI and community learning for predictive maintenance brings forth numerous advantages. First and foremost, it empowers housing providers to proactively identify and address maintenance issues, minimising the likelihood of emergencies and significantly reducing repair costs.
Enhancing Tenant Experience
Furthermore, by effectively managing maintenance tasks in a proactive and efficient manner, we contribute to enhancing tenants’ living experiences within social housing. Through minimising disruptions caused by maintenance issues, tenants can enjoy an improved quality of life and heightened satisfaction with their housing provider.
Supporting Sustainability Goals
Additionally, the use of AI-driven predictive maintenance can also have positive environmental implications. By optimising energy consumption and identifying inefficiencies, we can help you reduce your carbon footprint and help towards your sustainability efforts.
Supporting Sustainability Goals
By leveraging our Community Learning and AI capabilities, housing providers like you can:
- Improve the lives of your residents.
- Reduce the risk of emergencies and lower repair costs.
- Lower your carbon footprint and support the UK Net Zero goal.
Our use of AI and community learning is a huge game-changer to the industry and regardless of the size of your housing portfolio, you can benefit from this innovative approach.
Complete the form on this page and we will be in contact, alternatively please get in contact us by calling 01242 582 555.
How AI is Revolutionising the UK Social Housing Sector
The UK social housing sector plays a vital role in providing affordable accommodation solutions for millions of people. With mounting challenges like a growing population, homelessness, and an increasing need for energy-efficient living spaces, the sector is under immense pressure to deliver. This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes in, proving to be a game-changer in the way the sector operates.
Let’s explore the different ways AI benefits the UK social housing sector, from enhancing tenant satisfaction to optimising property management.
1. Improved Tenant Satisfaction
AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can help resolve tenant issues promptly and efficiently, leading to increased tenant satisfaction and loyalty. For instance, the assistant can handle routine maintenance requests, rent inquiries and answer common questions about living spaces.
2. Predictive Maintenance
AI-driven applications can analyse vast data sets collected from IoT devices and sensors installed in residential buildings. Analysing this data enables predictive maintenance capabilities that identify potential issues before they escalate into costly repairs or safety hazards.
3. Enhancing Property Management
AI technology automates repetitive tasks such as rent collection, contract management, and property inspections. This improves efficiency within property management organisations and frees up resources to focus on more strategic work.
4. Streamlining Applications and Allocations
Automated algorithms can analyse applicants’ data and make unbiased decisions regarding eligibility for social housing allocation. This leads to fairer housing assignments and reduced wait times for tenants in need.
5. Energy Efficiency Optimisation
Machine learning algorithms can analyse utility consumption data to uncover patterns that suggest inefficiencies or opportunities for optimisation. This helps organisations implement energy-saving measures tailored to individual buildings or tenants, contributing to a greener built environment.
6. Data-Driven Decision Making
Integrating AI within decision-making processes enables housing providers to make predictions based on historical data and current trends. This helps them plan and make smarter decisions regarding investments, repairs, and expansion projects.
As the UK social housing sector grapples with challenges, AI is paving the way for a more efficient and effective industry. By leveraging advanced AI-based solutions, housing providers can improve tenant satisfaction and streamline operations while maintaining a strong emphasis on social responsibility
At Vericon we empower our clients to effectively manage their housing portfolio, while simultaneously decreasing costs, reducing in-person interactions and carbon emissions, while enhancing efficiencies and remaining fully compliant with regulations.
Our services cover heating management, fuel poverty identification, damp and mould reporting, compliance reporting, and emergency light testing.
Need more information? Reach out to our experts by calling us directly on 01242 582 555 or email [email protected].