Housing Blog June 2026: Housing - Its All About You

Are you digitally prepared, and are you actively engaging with us? These are the key questions Digital Telecare is asking housing partners across Scotland. This call to action was highlighted at the recent TSP meeting and reinforced in my May 2026 Housing Blog.

The initial request was a familiar one, asking all Scottish ARCs to provide housing monitoring statistics:

30 April 2026: ARCs were asked to submit Quarter 2 monitoring statistics to Digital Telecare.

Further targeted actions focused on organisations still operating analogue grouped housing equipment or hard-wired warden call systems supporting individuals in their homes:

- Contact Digital Telecare if analogue systems remain in place with no migration plan.

- Confirm whether temporary solutions (e.g. ATAs, bridge solutions or PDPL) are intended to continue beyond the January 2027 deadline.

To support engagement during this final year of analogue services, ARCs across Scotland were asked to provide data. While initial participation was strong, not all ARCs submitted Quarter 1 returns.

Following the Quarter 2 request issued on 30 April, we are still awaiting responses from approximately 8–10 ARCs. While this creates a gap in the national picture, the most recent data collected is outlined below.

This information is critical. It enables Digital Telecare to understand the housing migration landscape, track national progress, and identify where further support or guidance is needed.

Engagement – Extending Our Reach

Digital Telecare has engaged with 184 housing partners, including local authorities. Encouragingly:

- Around 60% of housing or factoring organisations are in regular dialogue.

- Councils continue to engage consistently through scheduled meetings.

However, 77 housing organisations have yet to respond to multiple contact attempts.

Digital Telecare Action

To mark six months until the migration deadline, a Ministerial letter has been requested. This will be issued to all Scottish housing providers and representative bodies, urging immediate action to:

- Identify and assess analogue telecare services

- Develop and implement migration plans

- Engage with Digital Telecare for support or confirm if no telecare provision exists

It is worth noting that over 20% of currently unengaged housing associations are classified as general needs, where telecare provision may not typically be in place. Where this applies, partners are encouraged to confirm this via digitaltelecare@digitaloffice.scot.

Decommissioning of warden call systems in favour of dispersed alarms is becoming increasingly common. However, this can be difficult to track, particularly where systems are removed entirely due to changes in housing models or tenure.

Continued submission of quarterly ARC statistics remains essential to maintaining an accurate national picture, particularly as we approach the final six months before the migration deadline.

Housing – The Right Support for the Right People

Many providers are currently awaiting approval and rollout of ATAs or digital converters following testing and field trials. While suppliers are actively working towards ARC compatibility, delays increase costs as PSTN charges continue to rise.

Digital Telecare Action

David Brown, Business Relationship Manager, will write to suppliers responsible for ATA/converter testing and integration. This will:

- Highlight sector concerns

- Request updates on progress and configuration issues

- Seek clarity on delivery timescales

It is important to note that converters do not extend the life of legacy systems. They simply translate analogue signals into digital formats. Ageing equipment continues to present challenges, including:

- Increased fault rates and maintenance costs

- Limited replacement parts

- Compatibility and software upgrade restrictions

Some organisations have adopted the PDPL (Pre-Digital Phone Line) approach, allowing analogue services to operate beyond January 2027 (up to 2030).

Digital Telecare Action

Trust Housing is working in partnership with Digital Telecare to demonstrate a long-term strategy using PDPL. Their approach involves transitioning nearly 80 developments from hard-wired systems to dispersed alarms, using PDPL as a temporary enabler.

Evolving Models of Care and Technology

Warden call systems still play an important role in grouped living environments. However, replacement programmes:

- Typically take 2–3 weeks per site

- Require broadband infrastructure

- Demand careful resident engagement due to disruption

In practice, a mixed delivery model is emerging as the most realistic approach, particularly for organisations managing diverse housing portfolios across multiple regions and service models.

For example, Cairn Housing is adopting a place-based approach to transition planning across 13 council areas, reflecting the complexity of large-scale migration.

At the same time, a shift is underway:

- Integrated services are being separated from warden call systems

- Dispersed alarms are being introduced as a more proportionate solution

- Telecare provision is becoming more targeted

This reflects a fundamental principle: “The right support for the right people.”

A Changing Approach to Telecare

There is a growing move away from universal, site-wide provision toward person-centred telecare. Increasingly:

- Provision is based on assessed individual need

- Services are delivered in-home rather than site-wide

- 24/7 ARC-supported HSCP services are replacing on-site support models

Current estimates suggest a 75/25 split:

- 75% resident alarms

- 25% supported services (e.g. pull cords, door entry, fire systems, lifts)

As one resident noted in a recent example:

“That’s me home, just off the night shift, so don’t bother with my morning call today.”

This highlights how blanket provision no longer aligns with modern living patterns.

Key Considerations for Housing Providers

Before investing in upgrades or replacements, organisations should:

- Assess whether universal warden call provision is still required

- Review housing tenure and service models

- Undertake individual resident needs assessments

- Evaluate system age, maintenance history and reliability

Short-term resilience options are also being explored.

Digital Telecare Action

A lease-based dispersed alarm solution is being trialled, capable of making a full development operational within 2–3 days in the event of system failure.

If successful, this could:

- Provide a cost-effective interim solution

- Offer flexibility through lease-to-purchase models

Learning from Practice

Recent case studies reinforce the importance of combining technology with strong engagement and delivery:

East Dunbartonshire Council demonstrated the impact of well-managed transition, improved reliability, and effective frontline communication.

Orkney Council is developing a case study showing the shift from warden call systems to dispersed alarms, highlighting the practical complexities involved.

The Direction of Travel

Housing providers are increasingly adopting digital dispersed alarms because they are:

- Quick and easy to install (no internal wiring)

- Often SIM-based, requiring no resident infrastructure

- Flexible, with ethernet backup options available

- Scalable and adaptable with a wide range of peripherals

This supports more proactive, responsive, and personalised care.

Final Thought

Housing providers who have already introduced assessment-led approaches and genuine choice are seeing:

- Reduced capital investment

- Lower ongoing maintenance and repair costs

- Improved service alignment with tenant needs

As the transition deadline approaches, the focus should remain clear:

Deliver the right support to the right people, when they need it most.