Like all UK industries, property is impacted by COVID-19 and the effect of the lockdown on the way it works. But despite this ‘new normal’, we cannot ignore our sector’s other key issues. For property managers, the lockdown has shone a light on the way we use technology as never before. This exponential growth is driving the ethical issues around privacy, data harvesting and function creep further up the agenda.

In response, today the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) publishes the third part of its 2020 Tech Insight programme. Data ethics: plotting a roadmap for the new frontier is a white paper focusing on the challenges now being faced by residential property managers and the wider property sector, as they seek to harness the benefits of digital technology to add value to service delivery and the customer experience.

The IRPM brought together a group of leading industry experts to discuss the way in which data is now being used in residential buildings and the ethical questions this raises for the property profession. How can we better regulate and manage that technology to ensure it is used in an ethical way while still giving homeowners and renters quick and easy access to the digital revolution that is transforming all our lives?

The white paper captures this conversation, highlighting the ethical challenges now being faced and sets out the next steps for the property management profession.

On the launch of the white paper, Andrew Bulmer, CEO of IRPM said: “We are sleepwalking into a data abuse crisis that could seriously damage trust between property managers and residents. The same data that will underpin great customer service and Dame Judith’s Golden Thread is also a fantastic resource to be mined and monetised by the unscrupulous. Managers and software firms need to collaborate right now, so that people’s data is not used against them, with property managers the unwitting accomplices.”

As we continue our series of dedicated technology white papers, each will address in turn the IRPM’s 4 Elements of property management professionalism – this being our third, with a focus on ethics and behaviours. 

The 4 Elements of property professionalism:

1. Technical competence

2. Safety

3. Customer and consumer

4. Ethics and behaviours

If you have any questions regarding the white paper please email ktakhar@irpm.org.uk. 

Click here to download the full white paper