How is AI changing property management?

Predictive maintenance

Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are reshaping property management, offering new ways to enhance the resident experience and streamline operations.

FirstPort, which is the UK’s leading provider of residential property management services, is responsible for managing over 100,000 mechanical and electrical assets across its properties. Our Critical Infrastructure team is committed to ensuring this equipment runs smoothly and identifying potential issues before they cause problems.

Last year, the team launched an AI-powered smart building platform to monitor critical systems like heating and lifts at a large London residential development. The pilot launch detected and monitored performance anomalies early, flagging potential issues and preventing costly breakdowns and service interruptions. For instance, it flagged a temperature drop in the heating system, allowing us to arrange for repairs before residents noticed any impact.

“The platform offers excellent insight into our plant room and systems. It provides visibility of faults before they cause a service disruption, and it helps us manage energy consumption more effectively whilst offering savings to homeowners.

From noticing an unusual consumption pattern in one apartment and being able to fix the issue to resolving a heating issue before residents were impacted, we have noticed a positive improvement to the service offered to residents.”

Scaling smart technology

Following the pilot’s success, FirstPort has expanded its use of its AI-powered platform across more developments. The system supports cost-efficient, data-driven building management and it even assesses how weather impacts performance. Our smart buildings platform can include any device that provides a digital signal, including Internet of Things (IoT) devices, energy management systems, and building management systems (BMS). We plan to expand this further to implement smart lighting, security and fire systems.

Smarter data, better decisions

AI-driven platforms are valuable because they collect data from various building systems, which are traditionally siloed across different subcontractors, into a single platform. This unified approach offers a clearer view of asset performance and supports better decision-making, ultimately enhancing our service delivery to residents.

Tech meets human expertise

AI is most effective when paired with human insight. On-the-ground teams remain central to FirstPort’s operations, and training and ongoing support ensures staff understand the technology and how to respond to potential issues.

While professional expertise remains vital, FirstPort will continue leveraging AI-driven insights to reduce disruptions and deliver an even better experience for residents.