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Preparing for Awaab’s Law

The Government has announced it is launching a consultation on a new Decent Homes Standard for the rented sectors as soon as possible, as well as bringing forward Awaab’s Law in the social rented sector this autumn. Many social housing providers have already brought in measures to combat condensation and mould to prepare for the Law. Natasha King, product manager at Vent-Axia, explains and outlines the latest ventilation solutions

Natasha King, product manager at Vent-Axia

With new legislation on the horizon, including Awaab’s Law and updates to the Decent Homes Standard, social housing landlords are under increasing pressure to address persistent issues of condensation and mould in their properties. This challenge has become harder due to the cost-of-living crisis, which leaves many residents unable to afford adequate heating, worsening the risk of damp and mould. Social housing providers must therefore take proactive steps to maintain healthy indoor environments, and efficient ventilation is emerging as a key solution.

Ventilation matters

Awaab’s Law is part of the biggest government reforms affecting social housing in a decade. It is set to impose strict requirements on social housing landlords to investigate and resolve issues of damp and mould within specified timeframes. According to the English Housing Survey 2021-2022, since 2010, there has been a steady improvement in the quality of social housing with a reduction in the proportion of non-decent social rented homes from 20% in 2010 to 10% in 2021. Meanwhile, English Housing Survey data, published in July 2023, found that damp and mould affect 177,000 social homes, so there is still room for improvement.

Awaab’s Law alongside the new Decent Homes Standard consultation, emphasise the need for landlords to provide safe and healthy homes, free from hazards that can significantly impacts on residents. In addition, under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, landlords are legally required to ensure properties are suitable for habitation, which includes effective ventilation to combat moisture-related issues. To meet legislative requirements regarding condensation and mould problem, landlords need to consider efficient ventilation.

Energy saving

As social housing providers prepare for Awaab’s Law addressing condensation and mould is non-negotiable. It is crucial social housing landlords choose ventilation they trust will tackle the problem, while at the same time offering an energy efficient solution. Fortunately, the latest ventilation raises the bar on efficiency and offers an affordable effective way to reduce carbon emissions while tackling condensation and mould. Designed to meet the specific needs of the social housing sector, the next generation of filter-less unitary fans, such as Vent-Axia’s new Lo-Carbon Revive 7, combine greater efficiency, near silent operation, a slimmer profile, all with the same great performance while aligning with the updated Part F of the Building Regulations.

Filter-less unitary fans have already proved their worth in combatting condensation and mould, with the newest fans, such as the Lo-Carbon Revive 7, delivering the same powerful performance as previous models while operating at only 19W. This equates to as little as an estimated £3 a year to run keeping costs down for residents while also cutting carbon emissions for landlords. With the cost-of-living crisis severely affecting residents this is important since a fan that is expensive to run is likely to be turned off.

Enhanced comfort

Residents will appreciate the sleek aesthetics of the latest filter-less unitary fans. The redesigned Revive 7 features a closed grille design and offers near-silent operation enhancing resident comfort while discouraging tampering. Additionally, the fan has been scaled down by 12%, resulting in a slimmer profile. This makes the fan ideal for a wide-range of installations, particularly useful in window applications, avoiding interference with window blinds — improving resident satisfaction.

Diverse housing stock

In social housing, flexible positioning is crucial due to limited siting locations. The new Revive 7 offers installation versatility with an IPX4 rating for wall and ceiling mounting options, as well as an IPX7-rated version for locations requiring SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage) with a new compact transformer.

When refurbishing diverse housing stock, social housing landlords benefit from having a single fan that fits all types of applications. A truly universal fan, like the Lo-Carbon Revive 7, offers precisely this versatility featuring an adjustable trickle speed option, an interchangeable intermittent mode and smoother humidity boost transition. This extra functionality in the software means even greater flexibility, so installers need to carry just one fan for their van. In addition, the new and improved Revive 7 now offers the option to adjust the trickle speed between 6-16l/s, with a boost to 18/l/s. This is useful in properties with exceptionally high occupancy that would require a higher trickle speed to remove excess moisture from the air that could cause condensation and mould, providing good Indoor Air Quality.

For landlords managing large housing stocks, quick easy installation is crucial. Vent-Axia’s Revive 7 is therefore equipped with Smart Sense™ intelligent technology, making installation and operation effortless, featuring a clear LED display and simplified menu for commissioning and data gathering. The built-in datalogger tracks fan usage, enabling landlords to monitor and address humidity issues collaboratively with residents to avoid condensation and mould, ensuring a healthy environment.

Reliability

Peace of mind is also a key driver when a social housing landlord selects a fan, reliability is crucial since neither landlords nor residents want unnecessary callbacks, who need a dependable, long-term solution to keep properties free of mould.

A sustainable choice

The new Lo-Carbon Revive 7 not only offers energy savings for social housing landlords but has a lower embodied energy due to a 12% reduction in the unit’s size and that the unit is made predominantly from recycled plastic. This reduction in size translates to less materials used and so reduced packaging. Additionally, plastic has also been removed from the Revive’s packaging.

The anticipated introduction of Awaab’s Law and the Decent Homes Standard represents a pivotal moment for social housing in the UK. By adopting innovative ventilation, social housing providers can take essential steps to comply with new regulations, improve resident health, and reduce carbon emissions.

17 December 2024

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