ENVIRONMENTAL sensors aimed at eradicating damp and mould are being installed in more than 10,000 council homes in West Dunbartonshire.
The technology works by tracking data on air quality, humidity and other environmental factors, with West Dunbartonshire Council able to use the insight to plan any required works.
The local authority said the technology will allow for work to be undertaken at the ‘earliest possible’ stage, as well as enabling it to proactively plan for energy efficiency improvements whilst tackling issues including damp, mould, and fuel poverty.
Sensors can be retrofitted to homes with minimal disruption to tenants, and operate from a sim card so do not rely upon tenants’ internet connection, the local authority explained. The sensors also allow tenants to track the data about their own home through an app.
Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal, convener of housing and communities at West Dunbartonshire Council, said, “None of our tenants should be living in a home that is affected by damp or mould and these new sensors will allow us to access information on the fabric of each home easily so we can take action quickly to resolve. Not only that, we will have data to track the problem and help us identify what the best approach to resolve it will be.
“This is the biggest roll out of this type of sensor in Scotland and I am proud that West Dunbartonshire’s approach to dealing with damp and mould is not only leading the way, but addressing the problem in an efficient and proactive manner.”
The approach is one of a variety the council is taking to ensure any instances of damp or mould are tackled quickly and effectively. Other actions include a revised process for dealing with concerns about damp and mould in properties, which will see dampness inspections carried out a maximum of two days after an issue is raised.
Any repairs required following inspection will be categorised as ‘urgent’ and carried out within 10 working days, with follow up visits to determine whether the household has additional support needs including financial assistance, the council explained.
The council said a ‘proactive’ and ‘customer-focused’ approach will ensure information on the personal circumstances of each household is available and is taken into account when solutions are determined. After repairs have been completed, a further inspection will be undertaken within 60 days to ensure no further action is required.
Councillor Hazel Sorrell, vice convener of housing and communities at West Dunbartonshire Council, said, “We have demonstrated how committed we are to tackling any instances of damp and mould in our homes and I hope this action reassures our tenants that it is something we are taking very seriously. We want to ensure all cases of dampness or mould are treated quickly and effectively and the environmental sensors will allow us to do that by alerting us when homes are at risk of mould developing and provide us with the insight needed to address it.”
