Mark Seaman, head of Samsung B2B integrated offering team, looks at how homebuilders and developers could be affected by changes in the regulatory landscape and how they can use technology to find opportunities.
For homebuilders and developers, 2025 will be a pivotal year. While there is opportunity in the Government striving to achieve its target of building 1.5 million homes in the UK by 2029, the industry also faces a wave of incoming regulation and focus on environmental and cost concerns within the housing market.
Critically, 2025 will see the arrival of The Future Homes Standard, seeking to cut carbon emissions by 75-80% and prioritising low-carbon heating systems. There’ll also be an acceleration of the Plan for Change, aiming to tackle fuel poverty through the installation of energy-saving measures which could save private renters £240 per year on average.
And there’s more. With consultations around a new regulatory framework for heat networks, and scrutiny on sustainability reporting standards, companies could feel overwhelmed with the amount of change that’s coming.
But change means opportunity, and, fortunately, the answer to meeting these increased requirements already exists. One common theme across the government initiatives is an emphasis on using technology to support consumers in managing costs and improving efficiency. But this isn’t something that just the Government wants. Consumers have championed the smart home movement for some time, amplifying the need for construction companies to take a digital-first mindset from the beginning of planning.
But what does a digital-first mindset look like in practice for homebuilders? It means creating homes with technology infrastructure that is, crucially, device-agnostic. This would allow it to support smart products from any manufacturer. So, homebuilders remove barriers for prospective buyers, ensuring that residents can connect the devices they choose, whether that’s a particular brand of thermostat, heat pump, or a new kitchen gadget they’ve purchased. This open, flexible approach meets evolving consumer expectations and extends the appeal of new homes in a competitive market. Ultimately, by providing a seamless, user-friendly smart home experience, developers can look to future proof their properties, thereby helping to increase customer satisfaction, and tap into growing demand for connected living.
This transition doesn’t have to be daunting, even for homebuilders who aren’t technology experts. With the right support and education, integrating smart home solutions can be straightforward and hassle-free. Samsung, through its SmartThings platform, removes the complexity by providing a reliable, open ecosystem that works with homebuilders, not against them. Homebuilders don’t need to master the technical details or worry about complicated compatibility challenges; instead, they can be confident that the technology will support a wide range of devices and future innovations. This approach therefore makes it easier to deliver the connected living experience today’s buyers are increasingly expecting as the norm.
However, making sure that homes are smart-enabled shouldn’t just be seen as an obligation, it’s also an opportunity for growth, particularly as Samsung research found that consumers are willing to pay up to a 7.7% premium for smart homes. While 2025 could seem like a year where the construction industry is beset by change, in fact, by working with the right people and being proactive in developing properties that fully embrace smart technology and connected living, homebuilders and developers can get ahead of the curve and find the opportunity within the change.