Condensation and mould specialists, Airtech Solutions, is offering expert advice and help to social housing providers following the Rt Hon Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, writing to council leaders and social housing providers regarding damp and mould. His letters highlight landlords’ responsibility to take action to protect residents from hazardous damp and mould following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak. As a result, the minister asks both council leaders and social housing providers to treat damp and mould more seriously.
Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 landlords have 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 minister’s letters request that council leaders and social housing providers prove they have systems in place to identify and deal with issues of damp and mould in their properties and that they are addressing risks to their residents’ health.
Airtech is therefore offering advice to social housing landlords on how to help tackle condensation and mould and fulfil the requirements of both the minister’s letters and the Homes Act. Condensation and mould can wreak havoc on both housing stock and residents’ respiratory heath. These twin blights lead to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) which can have health consequences for households. As the energy crisis continues and households face rising bills, many vulnerable social housing residents are unable to afford adequate heating which worsens the issues of condensation and mould.
‘The Secretary of State’s letters further highlight the dangers of mould with ventilation playing a vital role in protecting residents’ health. This year is particularly difficult because of the added challenge of the energy crisis so landlords need to consider how to improve the thermal comfort of their housing stock, as well as improving ventilation, to help tackle condensation and mould,’ said Natasha King, RMI Product Manager at Airtech Solutions. ‘We can help landlords meet their duty of care with the right ventilation solution for each property.’
