Compliance and automation dominated conversations in the housing sector last year. If you were hoping to move onto other topics then I’ve some unfortunate news for you… 2026 is set to be the biggest year yet for housing compliance.
With Awaab’s Law expanding in 2026 and then again in 2027 to cover a larger number of housing hazards and the arrival of the oft-delayed PSTN switch-off next January, this year will demand even more preparation to ensure continued compliance and connectivity.
28 in ‘27
The housing sector was transfixed and hopefully transformed by Awaab’s Law in 2025. The necessary preparations engaged almost every level of housing providers’ operations, prompting discussions around data quality, information silos, automation, skills training and organisational cultures.
But this transformation is far from complete. While 2025 was frantic at times, with organisations working to meet requirements around damp and mould, it represents the tip of the iceberg. Damp and mould hazards comprise just one of 28 HHSRS hazards to be covered under Awaab’s Law in 2027. Hazards to be introduced over the next two years include:
2026 hazards
- Excess cold
- Excess heat
- Falls (associated with baths, on level surfaces, stairs and between levels)
- Structural collapse
- Explosions
- Fire
- Electrical hazards
- Domestic and personal hygiene
- Food safety
2027 hazards
- Asbestos & manufactured mineral fibres
- Biocides (Legionella)
- Carbon monoxide & fuel combustion products
- Lead
- Radiation
- Uncombusted fuel gas
- Volatile organic compounds
- Entry by intruders
- Lighting
- Noise
- Water supply
- Flames, hot surfaces and materials
- Collision and entrapment
- Position and operability of amenities
Those two lists above highlight the extent of the work needed for housing providers to comply with Awaab’s Law in 2027. Far from a one-issue concern around damp and mould, these regulations represent a comprehensive, sector-wide shift in how housing hazards are addressed and resolved.
Equally, the preparations undertaken by housing providers in 2025 weren’t restricted to damp and mould. Many organisations revisited their data management processes and evaluated best practices, putting the necessary systems in place to enable future compliance.
Although the number of hazards will sharply increase during 2026 and 2027, there are some housing providers which have already laid the foundations of good data management and for them, the increased scope of Awaab’s Law will be a simple question of integrating new devices into their existing networks.
Get smart
Data, devices and automation are the key ingredients that enable a modernised approach to property maintenance and residents’ safety. Smart sensors and IoT solutions serve as the eyes and ears of modern housing providers, reporting trends in property conditions and flagging future hazards before they develop.
Not every hazard will have a ‘one size fits all’ IoT solution for easy compliance, although a good number of them do and some devices can help with monitoring multiple hazards. However, in cases where IoT doesn’t provide a complete solution in itself, smart devices and sensors still serve as valuable tools to ensure safe conditions.
In response to the growing importance of IoT in the housing sector, we’ve launched HappyIoT – a complete service that includes surveys, product recommendations, installation, maintenance and access to our HappyIoT dashboard.
HappyIoT is brand-neutral, making integrations simple and it can even be used to retrospectively integrate existing devices into a new network. Devices from different manufacturers or communicating over different protocols aren’t a problem for this solution. Furthermore, data and device controls are all displayed on a single screen, preventing data silos and allowing teams to act remotely when needed.
Modern contact centre solutions, such as 8×8 or Zoom, also offer useful features to help with property maintenance. This includes video-calling and recording options, allowing residents to demonstrate incidents of disrepair. Footage is recorded and safely stored, allowing an engineer to review, advise and take appropriate action. Additionally, with automated AI advisors handling routine phone calls, this service can be largely automated, addressing compliance problems while reducing contact-centre teams’ workloads.
Digital is non-negotiable – The end of PSTN
A November 2025 figure from BT Openreach estimated that around three million analogue lines are in use and need upgrading to digital alternatives, with a deadline of January 2027. This equates to 47,000 lines a week that will need digital conversion to avoid permanent disconnection.
The PSTN switch-off has been rumbling in the background for years. It’s been delayed before (it was originally scheduled for December 2025) but there won’t be any further delays. To emphasise this, BT Openreach is introducing a series of staggered price increases to copper products and services throughout 2026.
Furthermore, November 2025 saw the first three exchanges decommissioned as part of the move to digital. With three exchanges down and around 4,597 left to go, you might underestimate the urgency of this transition, but remaining on copper lines is an increasingly dangerous game.
January 2027 isn’t the start of this process but the end, by which point every analogue line in the UK will be permanently disconnected along with the devices they support. This could include CCTV, door entry systems, personal care alarms, emergency alarms, lift lines and safety devices. Without taking the appropriate steps by 2027 (or sooner, depending on when your local exchange is scheduled for decommission), these critical devices could be rendered unresponsive.
From researching digitally-enabled devices to installing and testing new lines, this isn’t a process you can leave until the last minute. If your organisation has any uncertainty about its current analogue line usage, investigate today – it’s better than losing critical devices to the PSTN switch-off.
What better time than now?
With two expansions of Awaab’s Law and the PSTN switch-off on the horizon, there’s a lot of ground to cover by 2027. While 2025 was a pivotal year for housing providers, with fresh conversations around data and compliance, the sector will have to capitalise on these learnings and double-down on data processes in 2026.
I don’t want to demoralise any of the hard-working housing professionals who were pushing to find and implement the right solutions to stay compliant in 2025, but to highlight the distance left to go and the importance of carrying that momentum into 2026.
With a clear vision of what needs to be achieved, we’re better-equipped to make important decisions and take the necessary steps that will carry the housing sector through 2026, 2027 and into the future.
Ross Hayward is the IoT product manager at Social Telecoms.
