Ventilation solution for Social Housing
Damp, condensation, and mould are common problems in
UK homes. They can cause health issues, structural
damage, and energy inefficiency. According to a 2021
report by the English Housing Survey, around 14% of
households in England reported damp problems, and 10%
reported mould growth. These problems are more
prevalent in older homes and in properties with lower
incomes or social rents.
Ebac has been involved in ventilation projects from the
Channel Tunnel and field hospitals in the Gulf War to the
London Underground.
Our new range of MVHR and DHR products is
specifically designed for social housing projects.
Simple and cost-effective to install intro retrofit
applications they solve the issues of damp, condensation
and mould in the most energy-efficient way possible.
Ebac's DHR solutions recover 88% of the heat from
purged air. Saving the tenants and operators a significant
amount of money on energy and carbon production.
Contact our social housing team on 0333 880 3427
to discuss your requirements. We provide a full
consultancy service to assist your project.
There are 29 million homes in the UK and damp, condensation and mould problems are prevalent is around 6 million homes.
The impact of these problems on health can be significant, especially for
vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and people with
respiratory conditions. A report by the Royal College of Physicians and
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health estimated that over 1
million homes in the UK have severe hazards that can lead to respiratory
illness, including dampness and mould. The report also highlighted the
impact of poor housing conditions on mental health, including stress,
anxiety, and depression.
In 2023, Housing Secretary Michael Gove announced that the UK
government has proposed amendments to the Social Housing
(Regulation) Bill to introduce “Awaab’s Law.” This law will mandate
landlords to fix reported health hazards within specified time frames. The
government’s decision was made in response to the tragic death of two-
year-old Awaab Ishak, who died as a result of prolonged exposure to
damp and mould in the family home owned by Rochdale Boroughwide
Housing (RBH).
The new damp and mould rules will form part of the tenancy agreement,
so tenants will be able to hold landlords to account by law if
they fail to provide a safe and healthy environment. The changes come as
the government makes amendments to the Social Housing (Regulation)
Bill that aims to drive up standards in the sector and hold landlords to
account for the service they provide to their tenants.
To tackle these issues, the UK government has introduced several laws and regulations to improve the quality of housing and prevent the occurrence of damp, condensation, and mould. The Housing Act 2004 introduced the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, which sets out standards for the safety and health of occupants in residential properties, including addressing dampness, mould, and excess cold. In addition, the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 require landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties, which can help reduce the occurrence of damp and mould by improving ventilation and insulation. Local authorities also have powers to address these issues, including the power to issue improvement notices or carry out remedial works in cases where landlords fail to address damp and mould problems.
