How new technology is helping to keep our tenants safe

Published: 

OngoPhotograph by Richard Walker/ImageNorth

New CCTV systems located at Market Hill and Trent View House have already proven successful in keeping tenants safe, despite only being installed three months ago.

Members of our Tenancy team have shared some of the highlights of having the new systems:

  1. CCTV was provided to the police for a male who was in custody, enabling them to gain evidence more quickly.
  2. CCTV was checked to monitor the movement of a vulnerable male.
  3. Using the new system’s multi-camera function, colleagues were able to see if a tenant had fallen on the stairs or if an allegation made was correct.
  4. CCTV proved that a tenant was not using the property as their main and principal home.
  5. New systems enabled the team to monitor a vulnerable tenant who was a victim of cuckooing, as well as using motion detection to monitor movement from people entering the property.

Existing CCTV at the buildings was no longer fit for purpose, with issues including frontline teams being unable to view footage remotely, or in real time. An example of why this is important could be to ensure that colleagues are able to regularly view communal areas where items have been left, which could contribute to fire setting.

The main aims of installing the new CCTV software was:

  1. to detect and deter crime
  2. for the protection of life, property, and goods
  3. to monitor movement into and within the buildings
  4. to record activity in and around the buildings
  5. to assist the management and control of emergency incidents, such as fire alarm activation,
  6. to assist with the handling of customer complaints.

Claire Coyle, Transformation Project Manager, said: “The new CCTV system has been invaluable in supporting our teams to keep properties and tenants safe, which is a key part of our being a great landlord strategy.

“The system is helping us to reduce ASB issues, as well as ensuring fire safety in these locations. The capabilities of the software means that we can view footage remotely, saving colleague time and ensuring an earlier detection of problems, such as rubbish chute blockages.

“These properties are occupied by a range of different people, and have communal landings, stairwells, and lifts, which can give rise to lots of different issues. We know that from speaking to tenants, they feel safe with the CCTV systems in place.”