Landmark research that could transform how UK social housing is managed and maintained has been launched today, providing solutions to the barriers holding back the large-scale adoption of Connected Home technologies.
‘If Homes Could Talk’, by the Disruptive Innovators Network (DIN) and Bromford Flagship, is the largest piece of research to be carried out into Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and connected home tech, which have the power to improve living conditions for tenants by detecting faults and issues early.
The report unearths the detail of why pilots are not yet widely adopted across the sector, by drawing on in-depth interviews with landlords, tenant workshops, sector analysis, supplier input and practical design work.
The final report reveals rich innovation but a struggle with fragmented data and teams, organisational culture and strategic alignment, as well as some issues with tenant engagement and closed supplier systems that will not fully integrate.
The barriers include:
- A reliance on pilots with no scaling or integration plans
- A lack of strategic ownership and IoT being embedded in business plans
- Disconnected data and unclear accountability across teams
- Low resident engagement and buy-in
- A fragmented supplier market and closed-system architectures
- Cultural dependence on break and fix models, rather than predict and prevent
Matthew Gardiner, Associate Director at DIN and co-author of the report, said: “Connected homes are not just about devices. They’re about changing the way housing operates – from reacting to failure, to preventing it.
“Our report found the technologies are fairly well proven and they appear to work. Although technological improvements can be made, the principal barriers are in the system that the data from those devices are being played into.
“By jointly taking collaborative action, we can ensure social housing across the UK becomes smarter, safer, and more responsive – with residents at the very centre of the system.”
The report calls for landlords, suppliers, government and sector bodies to make vital changes to ensure a move beyond experimental pilots, to embedding smart technology into the operating core of housing strategy, delivery and tenant experience.
Supported by Amazon, Aster, Livv, Stonewater, Yorkshire Housing and Sanctuary, the report presents 30 bold recommendations, including:
- The creation of an IoT clause in the Government’s proposed Decent Homes 2 standard
- Mandating that connected home strategies have scaling plans and integration routes
- Redesigning services around prediction
- Rebuilding procurement to reward outcomes and openness
- Putting residents in control of their data and experience; making them partners, not recipients
- Training staff for prevention, not reaction and regulate in real time
- Embedding IoT into risk, compliance and business planning
Dr. Philippe Demougin, report co-author from Bromford Flagship added:
“This research makes one thing clear; leadership and ownership are what count. The technology isn’t the barrier; it’s how organisations choose to use it.
“Too many connected home projects have stalled at the pilot stage, with no path into mainstream delivery.
“If landlords and suppliers make this a strategic priority, embed it in their business plans, and align culture and processes around prevention, connected technology can become part of everyday housing management.
“And when residents see responsibility being taken, communication handled well, and results delivered, trust follows. It’s time to move from experiments to execution, and from good intentions to real improvements in people’s homes and lives.”
Kris Burtwistle, Head of Local Government and NPO at AWS, added: ” As the sector faces mounting pressures around building safety, decarbonisation and service improvement, the insights and recommendations in this report couldn’t be more timely.
“This research provides a practical roadmap for housing providers ready to embrace the transformative potential of connected homes technology, and we’re proud to have supported its development.”
