The Importance of a Ventilation Strategy in Social Housing
By James Kane, Head of Social Housing Sales at EnviroVent
“Condensation and mould have long been a challenge in UK homes, particularly within the social housing sector. Through decent homes many properties have been upgraded to be more energy efficient and airtight and with this the risk of excess moisture builds – often with serious consequences. Mould isn’t just unsightly; it poses real risks to both health and property.
Within our homes and properties moisture is inevitable. Every one of us generates 4 pints of moisture per day. This means four people living in a three-bedroom home can generate over 112 pints of moisture every week through everyday activities like cooking, washing and even breathing.
The New Horizons Project stated that if relative humidity exceeds 80% for 6 hours or more mould growth will occur. With one in five UK homes according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors affected by damp or mould-related issues, now more than ever, the ventilation strategy is a crucial part of the conversation.
The regulatory and Socioeconomic landscape has shifted
Regulatory changes have led to a greater need for social landlords to address damp and mould complaints. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 driven by a former Westminster MP, Karen Buck drove change to regulate landlords in both the private and social sector to offer properties with no issues such as leaks, poor heating, damp and mould.
These changes, combined with the critical Housing Ombudsman report released in 2021 triggered a much more proactive approach from the sector – and a realisation that prevention is not just preferable, but essential.
Covid-19 has increased consumer awareness of the impact of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and the health risks of condensation & mould. Residents are more informed and more likely to challenge poor living conditions – and social landlords must be prepared to respond. This has heightened the need for robust ventilation solutions that help combat high levels of moisture and improve IAQ.
The cost-of-living crisis also challenged social landlords as there is a direct relationship between temperature and relative humidity. Every 1 degree change in temperature will lead to a 5% increase or decrease in relative humidity. With increasing costs for the UK public, residents may struggle to heat their homes, which in turn increases the risk of condensation & mould.
In recent years, there have been major shifts in regulation and public expectation around housing conditions, and rightly so. The 2022 updates to Approved Document F of Building Regulations significantly raised whole-dwelling ventilation requirements and introduced a stipulation that every habitable room must include background ventilation – regardless of air permeability.
Alongside this, Approved Document L and the forthcoming Future Homes and Buildings Standard are tightening energy efficiency targets. Due to take effect later this year, the standard will require new homes to cut carbon emissions by 75%, requiring the need for more sophisticated, low-energy ventilation solutions. This is driving up standards of indoor air quality in homes across the industry.
Ventilation is now legally classed as a ‘controlled service’, meaning it must be installed by a competent person and is considered notifiable work. Housing providers must ensure their contractors are properly trained and registered under third-party Competent Person Schemes.
And in the wake of the Awaab Ishak tragedy, the introduction of Awaab’s Law in October this year will mandate that damp and mould issues in social housing are investigated and resolved within fixed timeframes – putting the onus firmly on providers to act quickly and effectively.
Supporting competency across the sector
Meeting these new standards means developing the skills needed to deliver high-quality installations. At EnviroVent, we’ve helped hundreds of contractors and installers to meet this demand through our NICEIC-approved Domestic Ventilation Training & Assessment Course, delivered at our purpose-built carbon-neutral centre in Harrogate.
This two-day course provides practical and theoretical training in system installation, commissioning and compliance. It’s the recognised route to joining a Competent Person Scheme in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
EnviroVent also offer a CPD-accredited Condensation and Mould workshop, along with Domestic Ventilation Best Practice training. This 60-minute workshop provides social housing providers with an in-depth explanation of how condensation and mould occurs, informs attendees how to know the difference between damp and mould and looks at long term environmental solutions.
In addition, an in-house call centre training enables social housing providers to handle ventilation enquiries quickly and easily, providing clear communication and support to residents.
Ventilation solutions designed for social housing
Of course, training is just one part of the picture – the products themselves must meet building regulations, be robust, effective and suitable for the realities of social housing. At EnviroVent, our ventilation solutions are designed and proven to work with landlords and residents.
Discover the Filterless Infinity
A popular choice for bathrooms, kitchens and WCs, the Filterless Infinity is engineered for long-term performance. It’s low maintenance, energy-efficient and backed by an unmatched 8-year no-quibble warranty. With built-in data logging and variable speed control, it provides intelligent ventilation, support to help meet and exceed building regulations with minimal disruption to residents.
Explore Positive Input Ventilation solutions
For whole-house solutions, PIV is ideal – especially in properties where major renovation isn’t viable. Typically installed in the loft, PIV systems introduce filtered, fresh air throughout the home, diluting pollutants and displacing moisture-laden air. This reduces condensation and prevents mould from gaining a foothold – creating healthier, safer living environments.
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery
For new build and on occasions retrofit projects mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) is a great ventilation solution to improve indoor air quality, recover potential lost heat and support with a whole house ventilation system. This system choice can recover between 73% to 95% of the heat in the exhaust air and a great method to help make a property more energy efficient. It can be an essential part of a new build property design, support with SAP points and provide the resident with and effective solution to combat condensation & mould.
Remote Environmental Data Logging
With the regulatory changes in the marketplace and with Awaab’s Law greater requirement for auditing and reporting there is a growing need for remote environmental data logging. This solution provides real-time data to the social landlord’s desk of relative humidity and temperature levels in their housing stock. It will help when linked with other building measures to combat disrepair cases. Data logging also helps provide insights to residents and helps aid behavioral changes that can mitigate condensation & mould. It can also support reporting and raise red flags of properties where a social landlord needs to act so problems are dealt with proactively. At EnviroVent we have built a partnership with Vericon Systems, a leading manufacturer of remote technologies, to enable social housing providers to take advantage of the latest technology which gives them real-time visibility over environmental conditions within their properties.
The strategic partnership will allow EnviroVent to install Vericon’s intelligent remote monitoring technologies and management platform, alongside our current ventilation product portfolio following property surveys to proactively help predict and manage damp and mould risks.
Servicing and maintenance
To maximise the performance of any ventilation strategy a social landlord should adopt a proactive servicing and maintenance programme to ensure the delivered air flow performance from the ventilation systems installed in their housing stock meets requirements. This service schedule will help mitigate repair costs as ventilation systems are not failing due to inadequate maintenance, etc. At EnviroVent we can help with training, record keeping, audit trails and Engineers.
Your partner in ventilation
The landscape for social landlords is changing rapidly – with tighter regulations, increased legal scrutiny, and higher resident expectations. But with the right strategy and the right partner, housing providers can turn this into an opportunity to improve property performance, reduce complaints, and most importantly, protect residents.
At EnviroVent, we’re committed to being that partner – through training, design support, proven product innovation, and a full-service approach that simplifies compliance and improves outcomes.
Whether you’re reviewing your damp and mould strategy, looking for training to meet competency requirements, or planning ventilation upgrades across your housing stock, EnviroVent can support you every step of the way.”
Visit: envirovent.com/social-housing to find out more.
Or email niceic@envirovent.com to enquire about our training courses.