Revealed… why 84% of social housing residents avoid Internet of Things (IoT) technology despite clear link to better living and lower costs for landlords

Cover IoT Bristol University

The Internet of Things (IoT), the network of connected devices linked together by the internet, promises numerous benefits for social landlords and their residents, such as: reduces energy bills and carbon emissions; lessens the impact of fuel poverty; and fundamentally improves living conditions to create healthier and more liveable homes. Despite this, 84% of social housing residents are discouraged from using it due to concerns over data privacy.

With ethical questions about IoT clearly a major issue, AICO and the University of Bristol have now released ground-breaking research with the intention to catalyse discussion, awareness and action on ethical approaches to IoT in social homes in order to increase take-up of this technology.

With this said, the report proposes 10 key recommendations for social landlords to adopt to overcome ethical barriers associated with IoT. This can ensure both residents and landlords can reap the benefits of technology-led living, ensuring that this opportunity for broad-ranging change is not missed.