THE SMART HOMEC O M P A N YSMART HOME / A CONNECTED VIEW OF DOMESTIC LIFE
For independent older people, busy households and anyone who wants technology to feel simpler. We consider the whole home, then identify the changes worth exploring first.
Discuss your home ↗START WITH LIFE, NOT A DEVICE LIST
Heating schedules, sensible zoning, blinds and lighting scenes, with clear switches and manual control. Start with comfort and existing equipment; potential savings depend on how the home is used.
Targeted irrigation, path and seating-area lighting, accessible controls and seasonal routines. Reduce repetitive watering and unnecessary lighting without making a phone essential.
Explore gardens & outdoors ↗Explore doorbells, alarms, external cameras and managed access, with sensible camera placement, visitor permissions and a plan for lost phones or failed power. No system prevents every incident.
Review broadband, Wi-Fi coverage, wired connections and device networks before adding products. Include home offices and garden rooms, and understand what still works offline.
Review heating habits, lighting schedules, leak alerts and watering zones. Compare purchase, installation, subscription and maintenance costs with realistic potential savings. Where relevant, assess integration with solar, battery storage or EV charging through qualified specialists.
Task lighting, accessible switches, compatible appliance controls and leak detection around sinks and appliances. Avoid unattended operation where an appliance is not designed for it.
Gentle route lighting, easier controls, suitable ventilation and practical adaptations. Wet-area electrics and specialist adaptations require appropriate qualified assessment and installation.
Simpler TV and audio controls, video calls, reliable streaming and a small number of useful scenes. Keep familiar remotes and consider hearing, sight and dexterity preferences.
Agreed sensors, accessible controls and useful family updates. The resident chooses what is shared. Technology supports everyday life; it is not a substitute for personal care or emergency services.
Explore Smart Care ↗Record devices, warranties, update support and recurring costs. Agree who maintains the system, how batteries are checked and how access is removed when a household or contractor changes.
SECURITY IS PART OF THE DESIGN
A seamless experience should not mean giving everyone access to everything. Account ownership, update support and a practical fallback belong in the plan from the start.
Use unique passwords and two-step verification where supported. Give family and installers only the access they need; review and remove it when circumstances change.
Check security-update support, compatibility and subscription dependencies. Consider separate device networks where appropriate, and avoid unnecessary remote access.
Keep straightforward physical controls and establish what happens when broadband, a cloud service, batteries or power fail. Document recovery and any backup arrangements.
Agree camera views, recording, retention and sharing. Consider visitors and neighbours as well as the household. No connected installation can be described as completely secure.
ONE ROUTINE, SEVERAL USEFUL CHANGES
A well-lit approach, a clear view of the caller and comfortable rooms. Access still needs a dependable physical fallback.
Water the areas that need it, light the path and sitting area, and keep an easy way to switch everything off.
Use a simple checklist or scene for selected lights, heating and security. Essential alarms and safety functions must remain appropriate to the home.
Illustrative routines. Integration, availability and behaviour need to be verified for the chosen equipment.
Plan a simpler home ↗NCSC: using smart devices safely ↗
Energy Saving Trust: heating controls ↗