Prevention and proof in one connected workflow. Most organisations still tackle damp and mould with a patchwork of sensors, spreadsheets and site...
MouldSense: The Smart Solution for Damp & Mould Management
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Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week Returns
Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week will return for its second year from 20–26 October. For housing providers, this is more than a date in the diary—it’s a call to action. The underlying problems haven’t disappeared. In fact, with over 25,000 complaints about damp and mould made to councils in 2024—a 35% increase on the previous year—expectations have never been higher (UK Meds).
The Stakes: Resident Health and Legal Compliance
Last year’s inaugural Awareness Week united landlords, tenants and housing officials to tackle a problem that costs the NHS more than £2.5 billion annually (Specification Online). But the urgency remains. With Awaab’s Law coming into force, social landlords will be legally required to investigate and rectify dangerous damp and mould within strict timeframes—emergencies must be dealt with inside 24 hours (BBC; Clyde & Co). These rules are about more than just compliance: they’re about protecting lives and restoring trust.
Year Two: Progress, but More to Do
Since last year’s campaign, many landlords have improved reporting processes, invested in better ventilation, and piloted new technology solutions like humidity sensors. But rising complaint numbers show there’s work still to be done. Government guidance is clear: landlords must quickly establish the source of damp, act to resolve it, and keep residents informed throughout (GOV.UK).
What Works: Best Practice for Lasting Change
- Data-driven Monitoring: Utilise IoT sensors and real-time monitoring to identify issues before they escalate. Early intervention is the most effective way to prevent health risks and property damage (Vericon Systems).
- Prompt, Transparent Response: Landlords should respond within 14 days to reports of mould, with clear communication on next steps (No Letting Go).
- Resident Engagement: Educate residents on day-to-day actions like ventilation, while ensuring they feel able to report issues. Collaborative relationships lead to better outcomes (Moore Tibbits).
- Legal Readiness: Stay ahead of compliance deadlines for Awaab’s Law. Ensure your policies, processes, and record-keeping are up to date (Universal Damp).
Vericon’s Commitment: Technology and Expertise to Support You
At Vericon, we’re proud to help landlords on their compliance journey—whether through IoT-connected technology, practical guidance, or supporting organisations like Plus Dane Housing to stay ahead of changing rules (Vericon Systems). Our solutions don’t just collect data—they provide actionable insight, help you evidence compliance, and keep residents safe.
Time to Act: Download Your Free Compliance Guide
Damp & Mould Action and Awareness Week is the ideal opportunity to review your processes, renew your commitment to residents, and ensure your organisation is ready for the new legal landscape. To support you on this journey, we’ve created BREATHE EASY: Your Essential Guide to Awaab’s Law Compliance—a comprehensive, practical guide to understanding your obligations and how Vericon’s MouldSense technology can help you meet them.
Download your free copy now and make this year the one where awareness truly leads to action: BREATHE EASY: Your Essential Guide to Awaab’s Law Compliance (PDF)
If you’d like to discuss how Vericon can support your compliance journey or have questions about MouldSense, get in touch—we’re here to help.
Let’s turn awareness into tangible progress. Together, we can make homes healthier for everyone.
Introducing HomeHub
Our Latest Innovation in Property Management Technology
At Vericon Systems, we are proud to introduce HomeHub, our most advanced property monitoring solution to date. We have specifically developed this sophisticated system to transform how Housing Associations and property managers oversee their residential properties, offering unprecedented insight into residents’ living environments.
Our new HomeHub system provides comprehensive environmental monitoring, assessing conditions within each property every five minutes. We recognise that daily monitoring isn’t sufficient for modern property management, which is why we’ve engineered this solution to deliver more frequent and accurate assessments, enabling early detection of issues such as damp and mould.
We’ve incorporated intelligent machine learning capabilities that we believe set new standards in property management technology. Our system learns each property’s unique heating characteristics, allowing it to accurately determine optimal heating times and efficiency. This analytical approach enables our clients to identify inefficient heating systems and inadequate insulation, facilitating data-driven decisions about property improvements and maintenance schedules.
Communication sits at the heart of our design philosophy. We’ve ensured HomeHub enables direct, efficient communication between property managers and residents, with our multi-language support ensuring clear understanding across diverse communities. Our innovative Track My Repair feature provides transparent maintenance tracking, complete with milestone updates and comprehensive audit logs accessible to both residents and property managers.
As our Managing Director Bernard Cook explains, “We’ve specifically designed HomeHub to promote resident engagement and provide housing providers with a deeper understanding of their tenant’s environment. Our system’s intelligent analytics and AI learning capabilities automatically alert both landlords and residents to potential issues, providing recommended actions and enabling proactive property management.”
We’ve included practical applications that address the core needs of property management:
- Our automated notifications for boiler performance issues
- Our scheduling assistance for annual gas safety checks
- Our real-time environmental condition monitoring
- Our comprehensive maintenance tracking and reporting
We’re particularly proud of HomeHub’s remote update capability, which ensures our system remains current with evolving property management requirements. We’ve designed this feature to make HomeHub a sustainable long-term investment for our clients seeking to modernise their operations.
Our team has developed HomeHub to represent a significant advancement in residential property management technology. By combining environmental monitoring, communication tools, and maintenance tracking in one integrated system, we provide the comprehensive oversight necessary for effective modern property management.
We understand the challenges facing Housing Associations and property managers today. That’s why we’ve created HomeHub as a professional, reliable solution that meets the complex demands of contemporary property management. We’re confident that our system will help our clients enhance their operational efficiency whilst improving resident satisfaction.
Would you like to find out more?
To learn more about how HomeHub can transform your property management operations, please contact our team 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.
The Connected Data Revolution: Transforming Social Housing
Executive Summary
The social housing sector faced unprecedented change in 2024, with new regulatory requirements and operational challenges demanding strategic responses. This piece examines how connected solutions can help housing providers:
- Achieve operational excellence while managing costs
- Meet enhanced regulatory requirements
- Improve resident satisfaction and engagement
- Drive sustainable performance improvements
- Deliver measurable returns on investment
As we begin 2025, the UK social housing sector faces unprecedented change with the introduction of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. According to recent analysis, these changes are reshaping how housing providers operate and serve their communities, making connected solutions more crucial than ever.
The Current Social Housing Landscape
The Regulator of Social Housing notes that providers must deliver both more and better social homes against a backdrop of higher borrowing costs and increased regulatory requirements. This challenge makes the adoption of connected solutions not just beneficial, but essential.
Why Connected Solutions Matter for Social Housing Providers
Meeting Regulatory Requirements
From 1 April 2024, social housing regulation has changed significantly. Connected solutions help providers:
- Monitor compliance with new consumer standards
- Generate automated regulatory reporting
- Track building safety requirements
- Maintain digital audit trails
Addressing Core Challenges
Recent research identifies key areas where connected solutions can make a difference:
- Property management
- ESG & sustainability
- Fuel poverty
- Asset management
- Customer service
Improving Operational Efficiency
Housing providers report that digital transformation is driving:
- Better operational efficiency
- Enhanced tenant experiences
- Improved maintenance planning
- More effective resource allocation
Impact on Social Housing Operations
Building Safety and Compliance
Connected solutions support:
- Real-time monitoring of critical systems
- Automated safety checks
- Immediate fault detection
- Compliance documentation
Resident Welfare
Housing associations are discovering that digital solutions help:
- Monitor environmental conditions – MultiDOT
- Detect damp and mould early – Surveyor Cube
- Track heating efficiency – BCM
- Support vulnerable residents – HomeHub
Maintenance and Emergency Repairs
Recent data shows that maintenance and repair costs in the social housing sector increased by 15% from 2023 to 2024. Connected solutions can help address these rising costs through:
- Predictive maintenance scheduling
- Remote monitoring capabilities
- Early fault detection
- Automated pressure management
Research indicates that under-pressure boiler faults are the most common reason for emergency maintenance requests, leading to significant operational costs. Connected solutions help providers:
- Monitor boiler pressure in real-time
- Identify potential issues before they become emergencies
- Reduce unnecessary emergency call-outs
- Schedule preventative maintenance more effectively
Housing providers report that reactive maintenance approaches are increasingly unsustainable, making the shift to connected, preventative solutions essential for:
- Reducing emergency repair costs
- Improving resident satisfaction
- Extending asset lifespans
- Optimising maintenance resources
Cost Management
Recent analysis shows that while operating margins for social housing providers have improved to 19.3% in 2023-24, connected solutions remain crucial for:
- Optimising operational expenditure
- Reducing reactive maintenance costs
- Improving void management efficiency
- Enhancing resource allocation
- Streamlining administrative processes
- Maximising return on investment
- Supporting evidence-based financial planning
The Path Forward
Industry data shows that while only 31% of social housing providers have implemented a digital transformation strategy, over 50% recognise its importance. Key developments include:
Data-Driven Decision Making
-
- Asset performance monitoring
- Predictive maintenance
- Resource optimisation
- Compliance tracking
Resident Engagement
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- Digital communications platforms
- Service request tracking
- Community engagement tools
- Feedback mechanisms
Environmental Sustainability
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- Energy usage monitoring
- Carbon footprint reduction
- Smart heating controls
Strategic Value and ROI
Recent analysis reveals that while organisations typically realise 67% of potential financial gains from digital investments, strategic planning can significantly improve returns. Key value drivers include:
Financial Impact
- Reduced operational costs
- Optimised maintenance scheduling
- Improved void turnaround times
- Enhanced rent collection rates
- Better resource utilisation
Operational Benefits
Research shows that connected solutions deliver:
- Streamlined workflow management
- Automated compliance reporting
- Real-time performance monitoring
- Enhanced data-driven decision making
- Improved service delivery metrics
Risk Management
- Proactive maintenance planning
- Enhanced regulatory compliance
- Better safety monitoring
- Improved financial forecasting
- Strengthened governance frameworks
Performance Metrics
Track success through:
- Customer satisfaction scores
- Response time improvements
- Maintenance cost reduction
- Void period duration
- Regulatory compliance rates
- Staff productivity gains
Implementation Strategies
For social housing providers embarking on digital transformation, research indicates that success depends on:
Strategic Investment Planning
-
- Prioritise initiatives based on ROI
- Align with regulatory requirements
- Focus on scalable solutions
- Establish clear governance frameworks
Operational Excellence
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- Implement data-driven decision making
- Streamline core business processes
- Develop robust risk management
- Enhance resource optimisation
Change Management
-
- Comprehensive training programmes
- Clear communication strategies
- Regular stakeholder engagement
- Cultural transformation support
Performance Monitoring
-
- Define measurable outcomes
- Track regulatory compliance
- Monitor financial metrics
- Assess service delivery KPIs
On a larger scale, data helps social housing organisations make quicker and smarter decisions. It provides valuable insights into communities, highlighting crucial demographic information.
Andy Greenhorn, National Sales Director at Vericon Systems
Conclusion
As the sector faces increasing pressures, from funding constraints to regulatory requirements, connected solutions offer a path forward. They enable social housing providers to meet their obligations more efficiently while improving services for residents.
The future of UK social housing lies in connected, data-driven operations that support both regulatory compliance and resident welfare. For providers yet to embrace digital transformation, the time to act is now – not just to meet current challenges, but to build a foundation for future success in social housing delivery.
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.
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.
LiveWest Helps Pioneer Proactive Maintenance Revolution
Residents of LiveWest experienced a leap into the future of home maintenance when an innovative trial with Vericon’s BCM module flipped the script on traditional reactive maintenance, leading to a fast resolution to an undetected boiler issue.
Pioneering technology and a vigilant Remote Diagnoses Team ensured that a boiler issue was identified before one resident had risen from their sleep. It was 7am on 1 March 2024, and an alert from Vericon notified of a potential issue as automated systems were busy at work.
With just a click on the Vericon portal to review data and fault codes, information flowed seamlessly to LiveWest’s Remote Diagnosis team by the time their workday commenced at 8am. The speed and efficiency of this process were astonishing. By 9am, not only had the issue been identified but also rectified—all before it had even dawned on the homeowner that there was an issue with their heating system.
The remote team displayed exceptional capability by promptly contacting the customer, explaining an issue they were yet unaware of, and guiding them through an easy fix—simply topping up their central heating system pressure.
Paul Hutchins, Innovations Contract Manager at LiveWest said:
“Working with the Vericon team and their eco-system has been a refreshing experience. The Vericon trial has given LiveWest an opportunity to fully understand an option as a future service strategy and how the innovative concepts could flow into existing structures and workflows.
“Ultimately, LiveWest is committed to delivering the highest possible customer service and response whilst remaining agile and evolving in the ever-changing environment, values that are clearly reflected in the Vericon team.”
This episode is one of many that illustrates proactive maintenance’s superiority over traditional approaches. Costs were minimised, customer inconvenience was negated, and LiveWest demonstrated astute management—all without stepping foot inside the homeowner’s property. The success of this trial showcases remote monitoring’s potential to transform property management by preventing breakdowns before they become critical issues.
In today’s fast-paced world, such pre-emptive measures should become the new standard in maintaining our homes. This initiative by LiveWest not only saved the day for one household but also marked as proof that proactive maintenance is no longer just a concept but an actionable reality with substantial benefits for both service providers and customers alike.
LiveWest’s trial with the Vericon BCM unit is not just successful; It’s a peek into a future where housing providers leverage technology not just to react faster but to prevent issues before they ever become a problem. A win-win for both service providers and residents alike.
Would you like to find out more?
Complete the form on this page and we will be in contact, alternatively please get in contact us by calling 01242 582 555.