In this Partner Perspectives column, Adrian Rawlings, Head of Maintenance at Housing Plus Group shares how a trial of smart home technology is helping the organisation better understand conditions inside customers’ homes, enabling earlier support and better-informed conversations about damp, mould and ventilation.
Thanks to funding from our partners at Cadent Foundation, a trial of Switchee devices has been implemented in several of our customers’ homes. The technology provides real-time information about environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature and ventilation levels.
In a select number of homes with a history of repeat damp and mould issues, the Switchee monitoring devices are helping our colleagues gain earlier insight into property conditions, enabling us to work with customers and provide support before problems escalate.
The data has transformed our conversations with customers and allowed us to approach issues proactively instead of reactively.
Rather than relying on assumptions, we are now able to use clear, objective information to better understand what is happening inside a home. This helps us identify where improvements to the property, such as changes to ventilation or other measures, could make a difference, while also supporting more informed conversations with customers about the steps they can take themselves.
Whether it's opening windows more regularly, improving ventilation after showering or drying clothes differently, customers are often more willing to follow advice when they can see the evidence for themselves on their devices.
Importantly, the data allows us to work together with customers, combining any improvements we can make to their home with practical changes they can make to help achieve a lasting solution.
The trial has shown that data can help build trust and make conversations feel more supportive, helping to strengthen relationships between customers and our teams.
Importantly, the data is already demonstrating tangible outcomes. By July of this year, multiple homes showed significant reductions in mould risk alongside improvements in indoor temperatures. In one property, average room temperatures increased from 12.1°C to 23.6°C, while mould risk fell from 100% to just 1%. Two other homes reduced mould risk from close to 100% to below 3.5%, highlighting the positive impact that better heating, ventilation awareness and customer engagement can have on living conditions.
The data has also highlighted examples of excellent temperature stability. One property maintained healthy indoor temperatures throughout the monitoring period, ranging from 20.6°C to 23.9°C, while recording a 0% fuel poverty risk across all months. This demonstrates how a combination of effective heating systems and active resident engagement can support both comfort and wellbeing.
Switchee is also helping us to differentiate between issues caused by condensation and those that may indicate a problem with a property, ensuring the right action is taken more quickly. Where repairs are needed, they can be investigated sooner, while homes showing signs of increased humidity can be monitored closely to prevent issues from developing.
By identifying potential problems earlier, we can take a proactive approach to protecting our customers’ homes, improving living conditions and reducing the disruption that damp and mould can cause.
The trial currently tracks 18 homes, including 16 properties with combi boiler installations and two homes fitted with standalone Switchee Swift devices that are not connected to the heating system.
We have also seen encouraging levels of customer engagement, with 50% of eligible households currently using the Switchee mobile app.
As we look ahead, one of the biggest opportunities will be to increase app adoption among the remaining households with connected heating systems. Greater use of the app will provide customers with more visibility and control over their home environment, while also improving the quality of data available to support them.
The positive outcomes already achieved by some households will be used as case studies to demonstrate the benefits of engagement and encourage wider participation.
The trial has provided valuable insight into how smart technology can support better housing management, giving us the information we need to make informed decisions and help customers keep their homes safe and comfortable and, in turn, themselves and their families healthy.
Ultimately, the biggest benefit is simple: identifying potential issues before they become bigger problems, allowing us to work with customers to prevent damp and mould, rather than simply reacting once it appears.
The data has transformed our conversations with customers and allowed us to approach issues proactively instead of reactively.
