What is the transformative impact of AI in Social Housing?

AI’s impact on social housing is evident in its real-world applications; namely, it has proven its potential to bring about positive change and safeguard residents through pattern recognition and augmented reality technologies.

The use of technology

Despite the UK government’s announcement of plans to introduce “Awaab’s Law” in the upcoming Regulation of Social Housing Bill, existing technology can already shield vulnerable households from threats like dampness and mould.

AI’s adoption in social housing is gaining momentum thanks to early adopters like Flagship Housing. They have embarked on a significant initiative, deploying 20,000 Switchee devices over two years to monitor home environments, collect data, and identify patterns, demonstrating the potential for broader implementation.

Flagship Housing’s inventiveness showcases AI’s potential, adjusting heating systems to save costs and protect against dampness. Pre-emptive boiler breakdown alerts enhance repair services and customer satisfaction, and AI learning aids in prioritising deployments based on occupant needs and built form.

Kingdom Housing implements Visual AI through augmented reality, providing remote guidance for responsive repairs during the COVID-19 pandemic. AI scans and classifies objects from video or still images, enabling solutions that recognise and understand presented images.

A reported 95% of housing leaders believe connected devices hold potential benefits. AI in social housing informs landlords, predicts future service needs, and facilitates property control through intelligent technology with sensors around a property to aid vulnerable residents, offering information on activity patterns or medication adherence.

While AI in social housing offers numerous benefits, organisations must establish clear policies before deployment. Balancing the advantages of data capture and processing with privacy considerations is essential. Despite the challenges, progress is inevitable, and readiness to adopt is paramount.