The government announced on 22 September 2024 that it is launching a consultation on a new Decent Homes Standard for the rented sectors as soon as possible, as well as bringing forward legislation for Awaab’s Law in the social rented sector this autumn. Many social housing providers have already brought in measures to combat condensation and mould to prepare for Awaab’s Law. However, for those who have not yet prepared, leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia can offer expert advice and a range of ventilation options to help landlords meet the new legislation.
With condensation season upon us, social housing providers have the added challenge of the cost-of-living crisis with a growing number of residents living in fuel poverty and so using less heating, resulting in increased condensation and mould and poor indoor air quality (IAQ). Tackling this issue is more crucial than ever, with Awaab’s Law requiring hazards such as damp and mould to be investigated and remedied to set timescales. This, combined with the Decent Homes Standard consultation, will look to ensure safe, healthy and secure housing and prevent the serious health risks that damp and mould pose. These new measures are in addition to the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, with landlords already having a legal requirement to provide rental properties that are fit for human habitation, including the need for effective ventilation and freedom from damp and mould.
“The Decent Homes Standard consultation and Awaab’s Law, combined with the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, highlight the crucial importance of homes being free from condensation and mould. No one should live in a home plagued by this twin blight and effective ventilation is vital to help tackle the problem of condensation and mould”, said Natasha King, Product Manager at Vent-Axia. “At Vent-Axia we can help landlords meet their duty of care to their residents, helping them choose the right ventilation for each individual property.”
Social housing providers have a challenging winter ahead. Many residents will be rationing their heating to save money, meaning condensation and mould is set to increase as homes need to be warm to avoid this. Vent-Axia offers different types of ventilation depending on the property type and whether there is already a mould problem, with the company able to offer a range of effective, energy efficient ventilation solutions.
Vent-Axia’s new Lo-Carbon Revive 7 fan has raised the bar on energy efficiency for social housing providers, with an estimated running cost of just £3 per year. Designed to meet the specific needs of the social housing sector this next generation of the popular Revive 7 filter-less unitary fan offers greater efficiency, near silent operation, a slimmer profile, all with the same great performance and in line with the updated Part F of the Building Regulations. This gives social housing landlords confidence that the new Lo-Carbon Revive 7 can tackle the issues of condensation and mould, while improving the efficiency of housing stock and comfort for residents. Meanwhile, its new slimmer profile means the Revive 7 is even easier to install in a wider range of locations.
For properties with hard-to-treat mould, Vent-Axia’s PIV units, the Lo-Carbon PoziDry Pro™ and Lo-Carbon PoziDry™ Compact Pro are the ideal solutions. Designed to improve IAQ and prevent moisture build-up within social housing properties, the PoziDry range provides a highly effective solution to help households and landlords control condensation and mould, as well as offering high levels of air filtration. Providing fresh, tempered air into the home the PoziDry range creates an indoor environment where condensation and mould find it hard to exist, benefiting occupants and avoiding the damaging effects on the building. The PoziDry Pro™ is designed for properties with loft space to install the unit in whilst Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon PoziDry™ Compact Pro is the ideal solution for properties, such as flats, without a loft.
Meanwhile, the Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution from Vent-Axia has been specifically designed for easy, lower cost retrofit of heat recovery to save maximum energy and emissions and comply with the requirements of PAS 2035 in the social housing sector. The Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution range consists of three different Decentralised Mechanical Ventilation units with Heat Recovery, which can be used together to help improve IAQ and maximise energy savings by introducing heat recovery to the property. The range comprises: the Lo-Carbon Heat Save, and the Lo-Carbon Tempra which are both wall-mounted through-the-wall units and the Lo-Carbon Calido, which utilises a simplified ducting system that can run within the home to supply heat recovered fresh air to a different room.
For social housing landlords requiring further ventilation advice visit Vent-Axia’s social housing hub: https://www.vent-axia.com/social-housing. For further information on all products and services offered by Vent-Axia telephone +44 (0)344 856 0590 or visit www.vent-axia.com.