Heating and Ventilation

Effectively accessing and maximising government funding is key for social housing providers looking to boost energy efficiencies for tenants, lower emissions across housing stock, and meet the current required EPC Band C minimum rating by 2030.  

Whilst improving insulation is amongst the measures that can increase SAP points, heating control solutions can also provide an uplift with minimum disruption. 
 

Housing associations and property managers have many responsibilities. But fundamentally, they are responsible for ensuring that their resident’s properties are safe, secure and in good condition. Ensuring this, however, can be tricky. From running water and heating to lighting and ventilation, there are a number of factors to consider. And in turn, a number of challenges to overcome. 

Damp and mould presents one of the biggest risks. It's not a new challenge, and its effects have been well documented, particularly following the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak caused by prolonged exposure to mould. Following the coroner’s November 2022 report, social housing providers, including local authorities and housing associations, were asked to submit evidence about the extent of damp and mould in tenants’ homes and how they were tackling the issue. 

Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has welcomed the UK Government setting a date of October 2025 for Awaab’s Law to be introduced across the social housing sector. The law was initiated following the tragic death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak, due to a mouldy home. Awaab’s Law is part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act and is set to impose strict requirements on social housing landlords to investigate and resolve issues of damp and mould within specified timeframes, helping residents gain faster repairs and reducing health risks. It marks the biggest change in social housing rules in a decade, aiming to prevent future tragedies and improve tenant safety.

by Neil Walker, Technical Sales Support Manager, Intergas

The concept behind heat pumps is simple - powered by electricity, they move heat around to either cool or heat buildings.  It’s not a new idea; they were invented in the 1850s and have been used in homes since the 1960s.  However all of a sudden, they’ve become the hottest home appliance, shoved into the spotlight by the potential for cost savings and climate benefits, as well as by policy incentives such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).

Airtech, a leading condensation and mould specialist, has helped a Mid-Devon social housing resident to improve the indoor air quality (IAQ) and combat mould in their home. Mid-Devon District Council had a resident with persistent mould so asked for Airtech’s help to find a solution. In response, Airtech supplied and installed its Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) and bathroom extractor fan solutions in the property to improve the IAQ and tackle the condensation and mould. 

Vent-Axia and Switchee, the leading ventilation manufacturer and smart technology provider in the UK, are joining forces to launch ‘Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon Revive 7 with Switchee connectivity’, a proven cutting-edge ventilation solution specifically designed for social housing.

Vent-Axia’s ventilation solutions enhance indoor air quality (IAQ), while Switchee’s controls ensure that heating and ventilation work in harmony, creating a healthier living environment, putting both resident wellbeing and social housing protection at the forefront of property management.

It is essential to ensure that heat pumps installations in social housing performs as designed and with minimal issues for residents. Here James Griffiths Projects Manager at GF Building Flow Solutions (formerly Uponor) outlines how the correct pipework specification can help ensure optimal system performance, simplify installation and prevent future issues.

The UK has set a target to reach net zero by 2050 and with around 40% of the UK’s total carbon emissions coming from residential properties, a shift to low carbon heating is required if we are to meet this objective.