'Game-changing' IoT sensor set to identify unhealthy conditions in social housing
SOCIAL housing providers will soon be able to harness new technology to help stamp out unhealthy living conditions in their properties.
Local authorities and housing associations are now bound to meet strict regulations on living conditions under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act - a law which became effective across England in March 2019.
The legislation gives tenants the legal right to take action against providers if their properties are not safe, healthy and free from things that could cause harm.
Now, housing providers will be able to adopt an innovative device to ensure they stay in line with the law - protecting themselves against future claims.
The monitor, Envosense, uses IoT - or ‘Information of Things’ - technology to prevent cold, damp conditions in homes that could eventually lead to the onset of mould or other conditions that could trigger health complaints.
Cleverly, it can also alert providers to cases of fuel poverty or fuel arrears.
James Batchelor, CEO of Alertacall, the company responsible for developing the device, said it offered local authorities and other housing providers a simple way to help make sure properties do not fall below decent living standards as set out by the Homes Act.
“With the new legislation coming into force in March, it’s crucial housing providers can use prevention to stop properties falling into substandard conditions.
“This is a game-changing low cost product which offers housing providers the chance to use IoT technology to help improve outcomes for tenants and to protect their stock.
“With the average cost of repairing a property affected by damp currently running into thousands of pounds, there is a significant benefit in identifying homes that require repair or maintenance work at the earliest opportunity.
“The benefit for tenants is that Envosense will alert housing providers to problems that may be fixed with a simple repair, or support and signposting towards help for those living in fuel poverty.”
The Envosense device records temperature and humidity levels every hour, uploading the data to the cloud where it is accessible by Alertacall’s dedicated interventions team or by the housing provider itself.
No bigger than a pack of playing cards, it adheres to the wall and requires no battery change for five years.
It also operates without mains charge or WiFi.
Crucially, it will cost just 50 pence per week, per sensor.
Mr Batchelor added: “Our product might be innovative, but that doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. It’s affordable going forwards for local authorities and housing associations.
“Budgets are very tight across the sector, so we wanted to develop a product that would help providers save money in the long term, protect their stock and provide a healthier living environment for tenants.”
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Factfile:
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act came into force in March 2019 to ensure homes are safe, healthy and free from conditions that could cause harm. The act enshrines into law the rights of tenants to take court action against landlords whose properties fail to meet the required standards.
Envosense will be available at a cost of 50 pence per week per home. Analysis and contact using Alertacall’s interventions team will cost a total of 90 pence per week.
In 2017, Public Health England confirmed good housing is linked to good health. It found the cost to the NHS of poor housing is £1.4 billion per year.
A 2018 report by The Kings Fund - Housing and Health - reported that 10 per cent of excess winter deaths are attributable to fuel poverty.
Children living in cold homes are twice as likely to develop respiratory problems as those in warm homes, claimed the Marmot Review Team in 2011. The same study found the effects of fuel poverty contributed to poor mental health in teenagers.
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Notes to editors:
Alertacall provides services to help people to live safely and independently at home for longer. It has 15,000 individuals using the service, and its products are in place with 45 housing associations and local authorities across the UK.
The firm is based in Windermere, Cumbria and has offices in Warrington, Cheshire.
This press release is sent on behalf of Alertacall by 32West Ltd. For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Caroline Barber on 07711 920 944.