Alan Siggins, Airflow MD, looks at what councils need to do to improve air quality in social housing in light of Awaab’s Law.

Indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, worsening respiratory issues and other health concerns.

This challenge is even more pronounced in social housing, where damp, mould, and poor ventilation often go unchecked.

To address these issues, the UK Government has introduced and made amendments to social housing regulations to protect tenants. Among these are Awaab’s Law and the Social Housing (Regulation) Act.

What is indoor air quality?

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of the air within and around buildings, affecting the health and comfort of the people living there. Poor IAQ can be detrimental to the health of occupants, both in the short-term and long-term.

To maintain good indoor air quality, properties should be assessed for problems like damp and mould, volatile organic compounds and by-products from combustion. Solutions, such as air filtration and ventilation, should also be considered.

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act and how it ensures healthy living for tenants

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act became law in July 2023 and lays the foundation for how social housing is managed and regulated. The legislation aims to give tenants greater power over their housing conditions, providing quicker access to resolutions for health hazards.

Under this law, landlords are held accountable with regular inspections to ensure compliance. The Secretary of State has also been given the authority to require social housing landlords to investigate and resolve any hazards.

The bill was amended following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak to enact what has become called ‘Awaab’s Law.’

What is Awaab’s Law?

Awaab's Law will require social landlords to address hazards like damp and mould within strict time limits.

It was created following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak due to a respiratory condition caused by mould in his social housing. Despite the family reporting mould to the landlord, no action had been taken to treat the issue in the three years between the notification and Awaab’s death.

Tenants will also not be held accountable for the presence of mould or damp in their homes. New guidelines prevent landlords from blaming tenants' 'lifestyle choices' and mandate timely inspections and repairs.

If social landlords do not meet the timeframes specified in Awaab’s law, residents will be able to take them to court.

Is Awaab’s Law enough to improve social housing air quality?

Whilst Awaab’s Law is a step in the right direction, improving air quality in social housing should address the root causes, rather than just resolving existing issues.

One key issue is the lack of adequate ventilation systems in many social housing properties. A study on ventilation in social housing revealed that millions of social housing dwellings do not have mechanical ventilation systems in use. Introducing mechanical ventilation systems could improve the properties ventilation and reduce risk of damp and mould.

Of the mechanically ventilated social homes analysed, the majority of these had ‘extract only’ ventilation, with only 21% having ‘supply and extract’ ventilation systems that both introduce fresh air and remove indoor air. With almost half a million people receiving a new social letting in 2022/23, thousands are moving into homes that could benefit from improved ventilation.

How can councils improve air quality in social housing?

In the UK, more than half of social housing is managed by local authorities, giving councils a crucial role in maintaining safe, healthy environments for tenants, beyond delivering cleaner air for the wider community.

Local authorities should ensure that staff across environmental, planning, housing, and health departments are informed about best practices for indoor air quality. Council-managed social housing can also provide tenants with guidance on ventilation to help reduce the risk of damp and mould.

A simple change councils and 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.

There are also practical steps to take to improve IAQ in social housing, such as controlling the source of pollutants, installing ventilation and air purification systems, as well cleaning and maintaining these regularly. The regular assessment of air quality and upkeep of any systems will be essential for identifying pollutant and humidity issues early on and complying with new regulations.