BUSINESSES specialising in smart technology are being offered a chance to improve quality of life for social housing residents.

Housing association BCHA is looking to harness the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) – physical devices linked to the internet.

The Bournemouth-based landlord launched a pilot scheme in March 2020 with local tech business Daizy. The tech firm installed IoT sensors to monitor building systems and environmental conditions in technology BCHA’s 1,700 properties across the south west.

BCHA is now installing Legionella IoT sensor devices in a number of properties to test water temperature, removing the need for regular checks by contractors.

The sensors feed information to a management platform provided by Daizy and the data is made available to BCHA and turned into a task for its asset management team to carry out.

BCHA chief executive Martin Hancock said: “We are delighted to have embarked on this journey into smart technology in partnership with Daizy.

“There are many benefits to using smart tech in our homes, from compliance accuracy to improving customer health, reducing our carbon footprint and safeguarding our more vulnerable customers.

“We are now keen to explore what the IoT market has to offer that ticks all of our boxes, keeping the customer at the heart of what we do.

“We are committed to making our homes smart, so much so that we have this written into our five-year business plan as a leading goal.

“We have identified a range of issues which we believe have an IoT solution, including the early prevention of damp, digital locks, fire alarm testing and leak prevention.

“BCHA would now like to invite other smart technology providers to pitch IoT solutions for our diverse range of properties located throughout the south west.”

The housing association is seeking device manufacturers and potential suppliers who are able to work within the existing infrastructure to provide IoT services.

More information is available from Hayley Lloyd, BCHA digital projects co-ordinator on 07971 640969 or hayleylloyd@bcha.org.uk, or at bcha.org.uk