SEC2025 Conference: Who's Leading the Way?

On October 15th, SEC2025 brought together over 600 delegates from housing associations and local authorities as well as scores of contractors and industry consultants. With the theme, Who’s Leading the Way?, the landmark housing conference was centred around innovation, collaboration, new technologies and leadership in the UK public housing sector.

A gathering of housing leaders

SEC Managing Director Kerry Kyriacou kicked off the event with a powerful introduction urging attendees to ‘lead with purpose, not just policy’ then went on to encourage bold decisions in the face of housing challenges, saying, “We’re not just building homes — we’re building futures.”

Of the nine total sessions, three stood out.

Awaab’s Law — resident safety, landlord accountability

The Impact of Awaab’s Law session was among the most emotional of the day. With the new law set to roll out on 27 October 2025, speakers highlighted its potential to transform the entire social housing sector.

Rachael Williamson from CIH, who chaired the session, noted, “This law isn’t just about mould — it’s about respect. It’s about listening to tenants and acting fast.”

With the new law’s requirement to identify and repair emergency hazards within 24 hours (from when the concern is first raised), speedy action by repair crews will be crucial.

Lysa Nicely, a last-minute addition to the panel, from the London Borough of Haringey, remarked that, “We’re still not taking it seriously enough.” Then emphasised her belief that, “Awaab’s Law is about re-building public and resident trust in social housing.”

Jonathan Hulley, Head of Social Housing at Birketts law firm, added, “Lasting cultural change will transpire as a result of Awaab’s Law.” He finished with, “It’s an important step forward.”

Attendees were compelled to review their internal hazard protocols, invest in digital reporting tools and to train staff to recognise issues (and escalate them if necessary) immediately. One overall message was clear: compliance is not optional — it’s a moral imperative.

Digitalisation for better housing services

In a thought-provoking keynote, futurist and AI advisor, Ant Morse, Head of Digital Strategy at SEC, delivered a persuasive case for digital transformation in housing. His session challenged us all to rethink how technology can empower both staff and tenants.

Morse opened with: “If Amazon can deliver a parcel in 24 hours, why can’t we fix a boiler in the same time?”

He showcased examples of housing providers using AI-powered diagnostics and predictive maintenance systems to reduce response times and improve resident satisfaction. Morse also made it clear that digitalisation should not be all about efficiency — but should also promote transparency and trust.

He also warned against “tech for tech’s sake” saying that, “Digital tools should help us see people, not just problems. Every data point is a story.”

David Loudon, Founder of Digital Bark, prompted housing providers to ask one key question before adopting any new tech or AI solution: “How does the technology benefit the resident?”

Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, echoed Mr. Loudon’s tenant-first perspective by stating that technology and data should lead to “…changing the lives of residents…” while his belief in finding new solutions to old problems was made clear when he said, “We can die or we can innovate.”

In parting, session host Ant Morse reminded us that, when at its best, “AI is there to allow humans to be more human.”

Your housing stock and healthy homes

Ian Childs, Client Relationship Director at Sureserve, brought a practical and passion-infused voice to the conference. His session focused on optimising operations and holding contractors accountable, especially in the context of Awaab’s Law.

Childs shared real-world examples of how Sureserve is adapting to the new law as well as broader compliance demands. He shared how Sureserve, back in March (when Awaab’s Law was still gaining traction) wanted to package something up that would assist “…social housing landlords assess their properties.” That initial thought matured into Sureserve’s Healthy Homes Check – a proactive, visual inspection of social residences created to help housing associations stay ahead of the maelstrom of work that Awaab’s Law will surely engender.

“We go beyond just fixing things — we build trust,” said Mr. Childs and described how Sureserve has implemented real-time reporting dashboards, tenant feedback loops and mobile workforce tools to streamline service delivery.

He also addressed workforce challenges, saying, “We need to invest in our people as much as our systems. A skilled, motivated engineer is the best compliance tool you’ll ever have.”

The session was praised for its honesty and actionable insights. Mr. Childs closed with a challenge: “Let’s stop talking about minimum standards. Let’s talk about what excellence looks like.”

Parting thoughts

These three sessions — grounded in technology, innovation and a resident-first spirit — captured the soul of SEC2025. They reminded us that social housing is not just about bricks and mortar; it’s about futuristic thinking, resident dignity, innovation and accountability.

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