Oyegoke, A S; Ajayi, S; Abbas, M A and Ogunlana, S (2025) Smart housing adaptations register with user matching functionalities for different mobility categories for the social housing sector. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 43(2), pp. 177-196. ISSN 2398-4708
Abstract
Purpose: The lack of a proper register to store, match and display information on the adapted property has led to a waste of resources and prolonged delays in matching the disabled and elderly people with appropriate properties. This paper presents the development of a Housing Adaptations Register with user-matching functionalities for different mobility categories. The developed system accurately captures and documents adapted home information to facilitate the automated matching of disabled/aged applicants needing an adapted home with suitable property using banding, mobility and suitability index. Design/methodology/approach: A theoretical review was conducted to identify parameters and develop adaptations register construct. A survey questionnaire approach to rate the 111 parameters in the register as either moderate, desirable or essential before system development and application. The system development relied on DSS modelling to support data-driven decision-making based on the decision table method to represent property information for implementing the decision process. The system is validated through a workshop, four brainstorming sessions and three focus group exercises. Findings: Development of a choice-based system that enables the housing officers or the Housing Adaptations Register coordinators to know the level of adaptation to properties and match properties quickly with the applicants based on their mobility status. The merits of the automated system include the development of a register to capture in real-time adapted home information to facilitate the automated matching of disabled/aged applicants. A "choice-based" system that can map and suggest a property that can easily be adapted and upgraded from one mobility band to the other. Practical implications: The development of a housing adaptation register helps social housing landlords to have a real-time register to match, map and upgrade properties for the most vulnerable people in our society. It saves time and money for the housing associations and the local authorities through stable tenancy for adapted homes. Potentially, it will promote the independence of aged and disabled people and can reduce their dependence on social and healthcare services. Originality/value: This system provides the local authorities with objective and practical tools that may be used to assess, score, prioritise and select qualified people for appropriate accommodation based on their needs and mobility status. It will provide a record of properties adapted with their features and ensure that matching and eligibility decisions are consistent and uniform.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | adaptation register; elderly and disabled people; housing adaptation; matching functionalities; smart system; UK; questionnaire survey |
| Index terms: | social housing, modelling, eligibility, decision process, adaptation, elderly, tenancy, mobility, exercise, workshop, landlord, suitability, smart housing, data-driven decision-making, housing association, housing, methodology, documents, questionnaire, functionality, local authority, survey, disabled, society, focus group |
| Subjects: | user focus, construction type, health behaviours and lifestyles, design features, analytical methods, property law, research methods, demography, housing and residential development, communities and social development, data collection methods, institutional client, professional development, employment law, decision analysis, sociology, design criteria, infrastructure and transport systems |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Construction Technology, Information Management, Research Practice, Urban Studies, Design Practice, Risk Management, Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Legal Issues, Ethics |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here