Across the UK, much of the sheltered housing stock consists of older buildings, some constructed long before today’s safety standards or digital infrastructure were in place. For the people who live in these schemes, safety relies on systems that work reliably, not just for emergency alarms, but increasingly for environmental monitoring, maintenance and building health. Yet many schemes still rely on analogue alarm systems that function on a basic level, but struggle to deliver the visibility and responsiveness that modern care environments demand.
When reliability breaks down, so does safety
For residents in sheltered housing, reliability is essential. Alarm systems must respond the moment they are needed; any uncertainty undermines the sense of safety these environments are intended to provide.
In analogue schemes, this reliability is not always assured. Alarms can fail without anyone noticing. A resident may press their emergency button expecting help, yet no signal is ever received. This silent failure becomes visible only when support does not arrive.
And for staff, unreliable alarm communication forces teams into constant troubleshooting, diverting attention from resident care to fault management. Over time, this reactive way of working leads to stress, inefficiency and a growing gap between what the system promises and what it actually delivers.
Over time, this erodes trust on both sides, residents become less confident using their alarms, and staff must balance care duties with technical firefighting. The outcome is a system that technically exists, but no longer truly supports the people it was built to protect.
Ageing buildings and analogue systems put residents at risk
Many sheltered housing schemes occupy older buildings where damp, wiring degradation and poor ventilation are recurring challenges. In 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak tragically died after prolonged exposure to black mould in his social housing flat, a case that shocked the entire housing sector (GOV.UK, 2023). Awaab’s case exposed how environmental hazards, left unchecked, can have fatal outcomes. In many sheltered housing schemes, the same risks apply.
Analogue systems cannot easily support additional sensors for humidity, air quality or temperature, which makes it difficult to monitor environmental conditions across multiple dwellings. Digital platforms, on the other hand, allow providers to add and integrate these types of sensors directly into the same system without new wiring or major installation work. This makes it possible to track dampness, ventilation or temperature and receive timely alerts before issues escalate. Without the digital integration, residents remain exposed to hidden risks and providers lack the data needed to act in time.
A new regulatory landscape: Awaab’s Law
The tragic death of Awaab Ishak prompted major policy change. From 27 October 2025, Awaab’s Law will require all social landlords to investigate serious damp and mould issues within 10 working days, and to make homes safe within five working days after that investigation concludes (GOV.UK, 2024). Emergency hazards must be made safe within 24 hours.
The law underscores a broader shift in responsibility: housing providers are now expected to proactively monitor and maintain healthy living environments, not just respond to reported issues. For sheltered housing, this requires infrastructure capable of collecting real-time data, identifying risks early and enabling swift action. Analogue systems, with their limited integration and visibility, cannot deliver on these new expectations.
Next steps toward reliable and compliant alarm services
The good news is that modern digital alarm platforms can support this new, preventive approach to housing safety, not by replacing everything at once, but by creating a bridge between old and new technologies. With a digital foundation in place, environmental sensors, system health monitoring and reliable alarm communication can all be integrated into one platform. This enables housing providers to maintain continuity today while building a safer, more adaptable system for the future.
Skyresponse supports organisations throughout this transition. Whether you are maintaining legacy equipment or planning a full upgrade, our platform and bridging solutions help you move forward at your own pace while ensuring residents remain protected at every step.
Have questions about your digital transition? We’re here to help. Contact us to discuss how Skyresponse can support your next steps.
