Swindon Borough Council partners with Aico for home life safety

The new 3000 Series alarms will be fitted with sensors that detect heat, smoke and carbon monoxide. The units will replace existing devices with the ability to send notifications to Swindon Borough Council when they need testing, repairing or replacing by virtue of using Aico’s Ei1000G Gateway.

Importantly, tenants will also have the option to receive these alerts via a downloadable resident app.

The four-year, £10.5 million upgrade programme, which started in September, has so far seen new devices installed in 1,190 properties.

Swindon Borough Council is the largest social housing provider in the Borough, owning and managing 10,383 homes including 31 sheltered housing schemes and four supported housing schemes.

Alongside these new alarms, approximately 10% of all the properties benefiting from the works will also receive Aico’s EI1025 Environmental Sensors, which measure temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels. These will provide Swindon Borough Council with real-time data and alerts, enabling them to take proactive measures to maintain safe and healthy living spaces.

The four-year upgrade programme is included within Swindon Borough Council’s new asset management strategy, agreed by cabinet members in February. The strategy outlines plans to invest £250 million into the maintenance and improvement of Swindon Borough Council-owned homes between 2025 and 2030, at no cost to services funded through Council Tax.

Safety and peace of mind

Councillor Janine Howarth, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “This £10.5 million upgrade programme will see fire and carbon monoxide alarms upgraded in all Swindon Borough Council -owned houses over the next four years.”

Howarth continued: “The devices will help our housing team members to enhance tenants’ safety and peace of mind by sending notifications when the alarms need testing, repairing or replacing.”

In addition, Howarth noted: “The Environmental Sensors being installed in a prioritised list of properties will provide alerts to tenants so they can take action to maintain a safe and healthy living space. Our housing team will also have access to these so we can be proactive in providing support and advice.”

Peter Price-Higgott, relationship manager at Aico, stated: “We’re delighted to collaborate with Swindon Borough Council on it upgrade programme. Following a successful project to trial the technology, the Borough Council has experienced the benefits of using our products to improve well-being and enhance resident safety within their homes. We look forward to continuing our support throughout the project and beyond.”

*Further information is available online at www.aico.co.uk