Council-owned homes to receive fire and smoke alarm upgrades

These new alarms will be fitted with sensors that detect heat, smoke and carbon monoxide. The units will replace existing devices and will have the ability to send notifications to the Council when they need testing, repairing or replacing. Tenants will also have the option to receive these alerts via a downloadable app.

The £10.5m upgrade programme, which started in September, has so far seen new devices installed in 1,190 council-owned properties.

In the meantime, while the upgrades are taking place, tenants are being asked to check their fire alarms and to contact the Council by e-mail through TLO@swindon.gov.uk if they have any concerns about their current alarms. Further fire safety advice can be found online.

The 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 per cent of all the properties benefitting from the works will also receive environmental sensors which measures temperature and humidity levels. These will provide tenants with real-time data and alerts to help them take proactive measures to maintain a safe and healthy living space.

The Council will also receive the data from the sensors, allowing its Housing team to advise and support tenants to make changes to their living environment in response

The four-year upgrade programme is included within the Council’s new Asset Management Strategy, agreed by Cabinet Members in February. The Strategy outlines plans to invest £250m into the maintenance and improvement of Council-owned homes between 2025 and 2030, at no cost to services funded through Council Tax.

Councillor Janine Howarth, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “This £10.5m programme will see fire and carbon monoxide alarms upgraded in all council-owned houses over the next four years.

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

“Meanwhile 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, said: "We’re delighted to collaborate with Swindon Borough Council on their upgrade program.

"Following a successful project to pilot the scheme and trial the technology, they have experienced the benefits of using our products to improve the wellbeing and enhance resident safety within their homes. We look forward to continuing our support throughout the project and beyond.”