Poor indoor air quality

With Awaab’s Law coming into force on 27 October 2025, condensation and mould specialists, Airtech, are encouraging social housing landlords to ensure ventilation systems in their properties are regularly serviced to maintain good indoor air quality (IAQ) for tenants. Ventilation systems require regular servicing to keep them clean and operating efficiently, helping protect residents from the harmful effects of damp and mould and so supporting landlords in meeting their new legal duties under Awaab’s Law. To help social housing providers, Airtech provides landlords with options to service both individual properties and entire housing stocks.

Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has unveiled an industry first with its new Lo-Carbon Revive 7 Switchee-Enabled smart ventilation. Designed specifically for the social housing sector, the new Lo-Carbon Revive 7 integrates Vent-Axia’s market-leading smart-enabled fan technology with Switchee’s in-home connectivity to deliver energy-efficient ventilation, real-time environmental insights, tamper-proof performance, and proactive communication between landlords and residents. Vent-Axia is the first UK ventilation company to provide remotely accessible fan data to housing providers. It is also the first smart technology solution that not only identifies condensation and mould but also actively helps to prevent them. 

Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has welcomed the Government’s recent publication of ‘Awaab’s Law: Draft guidance for social landlords’, following Awaab’s Law being laid out in front of Parliament on 25 June 2025. With phase 1 of the law set to take effect on 27 October 2025, the draft guidance marks a critical step in helping social housing landlords prepare for their legal obligations. The law was initiated following the tragic death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak, due to a mouldy home. Part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, Awaab’s Law 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. 

David Bly – Managing Director of Cornerstone Management Services Ltd, a company providing independent expert property health surveys is of the opinion more can be done for fighting year-on-year damp, condensation and mould issues in buildings.

For many involved with managing and upholding structural health, it could be argued there needs to be a ‘reset’ with regard to how structures are assessed for these reported issues.

With a proven history providing independent expert surveys into the root causes of damp, condensation and mould, our findings clearly confirm many issues align to the adequate ventilation of a building.

Poor indoor air quality can lead to visible pollutants such as mould growth, and also allow the build-up of hidden dangers such as CO, VOCs, etc. which can have an adverse effect on health. HA speaks to Chris Yates, Managing Director of Johnson & Starley, about how RSLs can help by improving ventilation.

How can poor IAQ affect residents’ health?
Chris: Health issues can range from irritated eyes, nose and throat, headaches, tiredness to difficulty breathing, nausea, confusion and difficulty in concentrating.  With long term exposure there can be damage to the heart, liver or kidneys and central nervous system, as well as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma.