Social Housing Tenants at Risk of Ventilation Issues, Study Finds
A recent study has revealed that social housing tenants are more than 11 times more likely to experience ventilation issues than plumbing issues, and almost five times as likely to experience ventilation issues as heating issues. Ventilation and insulation key areas for improvement, not only for resident satisfaction, but for their health and safety.
Airflow’s Ventilation Challenges in Social Housing report analyses the ventilation systems and energy efficiency of social housing, as well as data from the Social Housing Residents Survey. It revealed that millions of social housing dwellings do not have mechanical ventilation systems in use, which could improve the properties ventilation and reduce risk of damp and mould.
Of the mechanically ventilated social homes we analysed, the majority of these had ‘extract only’ ventilation (79%), with only 21% having ‘supply and extract’ ventilation installed, i.e. the system continuously both introduces fresh outdoor air and removes indoor air. With almost half a million people receiving a new social letting in 2021/22 – an increase of 52,000 people from the previous year – that’s thousands of people moving into homes that could benefit from improved ventilation.
The study came after Awaab’s Law received Royal Assent in the summer, requiring social housing landlords to investigate and fix damp and mould in their properties within strict new time limits. Awaab’s Law is a step in the right direction, but improving air quality in social housing involves more than just resolving existing issues; it requires addressing the root causes.
The study also revealed the top reasons that social housing residents were dissatisfied with their homes were:
- Mould
- Damp
- Condensation
- Insulation
- Ventilation
What can landlords do to improve ventilation?
Social housing landlords don’t need to wait for hazards to arise and can take certain steps to test and improve the ventilation in their properties.
One simple change landlords can make is to listen to tenants. Government data found almost a third of tenants in social housing are not satisfied with the extent to which their landlord listens to and acts on their complaints. One in five residents also say they disagree that the landlord consults them on decisions that impact their home.
Landlords can install ventilation systems in their properties. One popular option is a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system. In the past, other systems have been used in social homes, but as dwellings have become more airtight, the air in these homes have nowhere to go but stay in the home and contribute to the issue of mould.
Landlords can also educate their tenants on how to properly use installed ventilation systems, as well as on the need to ventilate properly in order to reduce associated risks.
Alan Siggins, Managing Director of Airflow, said: “Ensuring proper ventilation is essential in all homes, particularly social homes where the tenants are renting and unable to make structural changes to their living spaces, as poor ventilation can affect both the well-being of the occupants and the building itself.
“Our recent study has highlighted a gap in the ventilation available in these properties, despite the known financial and health pitfalls. Inadequate ventilation can lead to a build-up of moisture, which fosters mould growth and creates an environment conducive to various health and respiratory issues.
“With the introduction of Awaab’s law, landlords are now required to prevent growth and address existing issues in their social housing rental properties. Landlords can upgrade ventilation fans, install mechanical ventilation systems and seal gaps that allow drafts, among other improvements. It will depend on the property, so thorough checks should be run.”
