Housing providers are committed to providing safe, sustainable homes for residents, but the current landscape continuously presents challenges. These include regulatory compliance, residents’ safety, decarbonisation and disrepairs, such as damp and mould.
Simultaneously, they must do more with less; balancing challenges against resources and exploring new ways of doing things. Many proactive housing providers are embracing digital transformation, using data-driven insights to shift from reactive to proactive management of their disrepairs.
A proactive approach
One housing provider embracing this challenge is Melville Housing in Midlothian, with over 2,000 properties and an ongoing development programme. For over a decade, Melville Housing has relied on Aico for 95 per cent of its alarm systems.
Tackling damp and mould is a key focus for Melville Housing because the Scottish Housing Regulator is consulting on proposed changes to its ‘Annual Return on Charter’ indicators, including damp and mould.
Melville Housing uses Aico’s Ei1000G gateway and environmental sensors to gather data on damp and mould, with the aim of creating safer homes. Building on a 2021 trial with 15 Aico gateways, the housing provider has extended its deployment of Aico’s Connected Home solution to 50 properties, significantly increasing the data available to inform targeted interventions and improve residents’ well-being. The proposed changes in the Scottish Housing Regulator’s consultation validate the proactive steps Melville Housing has already taken.
Creating safer homes
Aico supported Melville Housing throughout the project, from initial discussions through to its broader rollout. The housing provider chose to work with Aico based on their long-standing relationship, built on their experience with the reliability of Aico products and the support Aico has provided over the years. This sector-leading reliability was validated in July 2024 when Aico smoke alarms saved lives during a house fire in one of Melville Housing’s properties.
To tackle damp and mould problems, Melville Housing has adopted Aico’s Ei1000G gateway, which is also linked to the fire and carbon monoxide 3000 Series alarms already installed.
It has also installed the Ei1020 and Ei1025 environmental sensors to monitor temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide. In doing so, Melville Housing can now proactively monitor damp and mould risk while also ensuring that the fire and CO alarms across its housing stock are safe and compliant.
Collecting and analysing data
Aico’s environmental sensors collect data which the Ei1000G gateway then transmits to Aico’s HomeLink portal. The portal provides valuable insights into key challenges such as:
- Damp and mould;
- Energy efficiency;
- Fuel poverty;
- Indoor air quality;
- Compliance
This allows Melville Housing to use the portal to proactively address potential problems before they escalate. This minimises the need for expensive callouts, improves communication with residents and enables better allocation of resources. This is particularly important with the introduction of Awaab’s Law to the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, requiring housing providers to investigate and fix reported health hazards within specified timeframes.
Additionally, the connected fire alarm system provides notifications for alarm head removals, activations, faults and tests, helping housing providers to maintain property protection and comply with legislation.
Building expertise
Aico’s relationship manager, Rory Fraser, delivered a variety of Aico’s award-winning, free CPD training courses to Melville Housing’s property team to further their knowledge of Aico’s products, standards and legislation, and best practices in the form of the Healthy Homes and Smart Social Homes modules.
Melville Housing chose Saltire Facilities Management (SFM) as its approved contractor for the project. To prepare for the installations, Aico delivered its CPD-accredited Expert Installer training to SFM. Aico’s Fraser also accompanied SFM’s electricians during their first installations to provide onsite support and ensure they were confident fitting the new equipment.
Ben Murphy, electrician, Saltire Facilities Management, said, “This is our first project installing the Aico gateway and environmental sensors. The support from Aico has been fantastic – before the first installation, we received Aico’s CPD training at our offices from our local Aico relationship manager, Russell Virtue. We’ve since been joined on our initial installations by Rory Fraser, Aico’s relationship manager for Eastern Scotland, who has helped us with onsite training and support.
“I’ve found it very interesting to use Aico’s SmartLink installer app – the installation process has been simple and easy to pick up. We look forward to installing more Aico gateways and environmental sensors in future!”
Post-installation updates
Via regular data review meetings, Aico has helped Melville Housing to understand the data collected by the environmental sensors via the HomeLink portal and how to use that data to get ahead of potential problems before they even become problems.
The data review meetings are held with Aico’s dedicated Customer Success Team who are available to train Melville Housing’s staff on the new technology. Aico’s Fraser provided in-person training at the housing provider’s Dalkeith office, ensuring its new team members could fully use the dashboard.
Colin Byers, property officer, Melville Housing, said, “Working with Aico throughout this project has been really positive. Aico has helped us choose the right product and shown support in rolling out the installation process. By installing this latest technology, we aim to give our residents a safe living environment.”
Aico has also supported the rollout of its HomeLink Resident App, an easy-to-use tool that enables residents to view the insights captured by the Aico gateway and environmental sensors, empowering them to take control of the environmental conditions in their homes through reminders, personalised insights and tips.
Rory Fraser, relationship manager, Aico, said, “I am delighted to have worked in partnership with Melville Housing, building on the relationship it has had with Aico for several years. The team at Melville Housing has embraced the technology as they strive to have a proactive approach to maintenance, with resident safety at the forefront of their strategy.”
