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:
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 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.
Meeting Regulatory Requirements
From 1 April 2024, social housing regulation has changed significantly. Connected solutions help providers:
Addressing Core Challenges
Recent research identifies key areas where connected solutions can make a difference:
Improving Operational Efficiency
Housing providers report that digital transformation is driving:
Building Safety and Compliance
Connected solutions support:
Resident Welfare
Housing associations are discovering that digital solutions help:
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:
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:
Housing providers report that reactive maintenance approaches are increasingly unsustainable, making the shift to connected, preventative solutions essential for:
Recent analysis shows that while operating margins for social housing providers have improved to 19.3% in 2023-24, connected solutions remain crucial for:
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
Resident Engagement
Environmental Sustainability
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
Operational Benefits
Research shows that connected solutions deliver:
Risk Management
Performance Metrics
Track success through:
For social housing providers embarking on digital transformation, research indicates that success depends on:
Strategic Investment Planning
Operational Excellence
Change Management
Performance Monitoring
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
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.
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.
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has made it clear: social housing landlords must raise their game. The new regulatory standards, which took effect on April 1, require landlords to prioritise resident safety, respond promptly to complaints, be accountable, understand their properties better, and leverage data more effectively.
For social housing providers, meeting these standards is no small task. Ensuring every home is safe, responding to repairs within 24 hours, and conducting hazard investigations within 14 days are just a few of the new requirements.
The RSH has left no room for ambiguity: full compliance is absolutely essential.
But there’s good news for forward-thinking providers: IoT technology offers a powerful solution. By harnessing the power of the Internet of Things, social housing providers can proactively monitor their properties, identify issues before they become emergencies, and demonstrate a commitment to resident well-being.
Vericon’s connected technology offering is at the forefront of this revolution. Our sensors can monitor temperature and humidity in real-time, alerting staff to potential issues like mould or excess heat before they become major problems. We also provide boiler telemetry data, which allows providers to predict and prevent breakdowns, improving first-time fix rates and ensuring residents have reliable heat and hot water.
But the benefits of Vericon’s technology go beyond improved efficiency. By giving housing providers transparent data on property conditions, repair history and with resident communication, we empower them to work with the resident to improve their living conditions, through education and support.
This increased transparency fosters trust and encourages providers to prioritise resident needs.
The RSH’s new standards are a call to action for social housing providers. By adopting IoT technology like Vericon’s, providers can not only meet regulatory requirements but also create better living environments for their residents.
The future of social housing depends on innovation and a commitment to excellence – and IoT is the key that will unlock that future.
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