A new law which urges landlords to take proactive and preventative measures to help improve poor indoor air quality as well as tackle damp and mould before they become significant issues has come in to force in the UK. The new measures were introduced following the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak. The new legislation requires all registered landlords to look in to and fix damp and mould issues with in a strict time period. This helps to ensure faster repairs and safer homes. The new rules will not only help to protect a tenant’s health bit will also ensure that landlords avoid spiralling costs which are sometimes extremely high due to the rate of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. Private providers of social housing now spend a record of £8.8 bn on repairs and maintenance in the last year and the level of poor housing in the country have caused the NHS to have over £1.4 bn in extra costs annually.
As a way for landlords to keep up with their new legal obligations, one of the UK’s leading home ventilation specialists has launched a new industry first with it’s new Low Carbon Revive 7 Switch-Enabled smart ventilation. The new system which was specially created for different forms of social housing integrates Vent-Axia’s market leading smart enabled fan technology with new in-home connectivity technology. This helps to improve and deliver energy efficient methods of ventilation as well as provide real time environmental insights along with tamper proof performance and an effective communication method between landlords and residents.
“Awaab’s Law marks a major shift for the housing sector,” said Joseph Brawn, Product and Marketing Director at Vent-Axia. “Landlords want to do the right thing for their residents, and now have the technology to make it easier by providing proactive protection against condensation, damp, and mould. The Lo-Carbon Revive 7 Switch-Enabled provides energy-efficient ventilation and now gives landlords the visibility to spot the signs of condensation, damp and mould early, act quickly and maintain healthier homes. It is not just about compliance; it is about giving residents peace of mind and landlords confidence that their properties are protected.”
The new system is extremely popular and helps to provide extra benefits for the planet as it is environmentally efficient so is unlikely to drastically influence the rate at which the climate is warming due to global warming. It helps to provide users with instant insights in to the level of humidity and temperature the fan uses. This in turn helps to provide early detection of damp, mould and poor air quality.
Designed to meet the specific needs of the social housing sector, the popular Revive 7 offers high efficiency, near-silent operation, a slimmer profile, and great performance, exceeding 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. Its slimmer profile means the Revive 7 is even easier to install in a wider range of locations, and is especially useful for window applications since it avoids interference with window blinds, improving resident satisfaction.
The coroner’s report on Awaab Ishak’s death caused national outrage and political pressure that led directly to new legislation. The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 included Awaab’s Law, making landlords legally responsible for preventing and fixing mould and damp hazards.
What to do if you have damp or mould
Report it to your landlord: Inform your social housing landlord about the damp and mould issues. It’s important to have this reported in writing, as evidence.
Follow up if there is no response: If the landlord does not act, follow up. Landlords are now legally required to investigate significant issues within 10 working days.
Escalate the complaint: If your landlord does not effectively address the issue, you can complain.
To the Housing Ombudsman: If you are unhappy with the landlord’s response to your complaint, you can contact the Housing Ombudsman for help.
To the courts: You can also take legal action through the courts to hold your landlord accountable.
