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publicised Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 which will affect most landlords and tenants. Having come into force earlier this year, the Act seeks to ensure that rented properties are fit for human habitation, or in other words, safe, healthy and free from things that could cause serious harm.


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With issues of condensaon and damp prevalent in rented properes across the UK, Paul Harrington, head of residenal sales at Elta Fans, explains how installers can help landlords to prepare for the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitaon) Act 2018 and lead the way when it comes to avoiding issues associated with poor venlaon


While we hope that most landlords keep their properties in acceptable condition, this new legislation will ensure that this actually is the case. For example, according to the latest English Housing Survey, in 2017, 13 per cent of dwellings in the social rented sector failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard which is lower than the proportion of private rented (25 per cent) and owner occupied (19 per cent) homes**. Whether renting privately, from a housing association or through a local council, the new Homes Act gives tenants more control when it comes to the living conditions of their properties.


The courts will decide whether a property is fit for human habitation by considering matters which are set out in section 10 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, including if there is a serious problem with damp and if there’s not adequate ventilation. If a property is deemed to be unsuitable for human habitation, the court can enforce compulsory improvement to the condition of the property and even offer compensation to the tenant.


Take responsibility


While manufacturers can help to demystify the new standards, it is actually designers, installers and building owners which have a responsibility under current Building Regulations to ensure compliance.


The link between condensation dampness, mould growth and adequate ventilation is well established. Therefore, when landlords spot issues like these in their properties, they are likely to seek the advice of suitably qualified and experienced ventilation professionals. As such, it is key for installers to get to grips with the changes so they can advise their customers.


Understand the regulations


With numerous regulatory requirements and guidance documents related to providing ventilation in existing homes, there is a lot of information for installers, building owners and designers to navigate, and that’s before the new Homes Act is considered.


uThe SANO Intelligent Posive Input Venlaon (PIV) unit oers housing providers a more flexible and energyecient way to manage the risk of condensaon


While Approved Document F and the accompanying Domestic Ventilation Compliance Guide are often considered the most important documentation relating to ventilation, it’s important to have an understanding of all building regulations and how they interact with each other. For example, Approved Document L1B relating to the conservation of fuel and power in existing dwellings, Approved Document A which covers the structural elements of a building and Approved Document B detailing fire safety are all of importance when it comes to the specification and installation of ventilation equipment.


AIR CONDITIONING & AIR QUALITY Homing in on domestic ventilation regulation


ith an estimated 20 per cent of the UK population now living in rental accommodation*, it is inevitable that any new legislation affecting this sector would attract its fair share of attention. Case in point is the heavily


Before investing in, or even researching the latest ventilation products and systems, it is crucial for both landlords (social and private) and installers to spend time educating themselves on the Building Regulations and guidance documents associated with designing and installing ventilation systems into new and existing homes. For landlords, having a full understanding of the UK’s regulations is critical to assessing whether the existing ventilation strategy in a home is adequate, if tenant lifestyle is a contributing factor to conditions, and if the surveyors, contractors and manufacturers they engage with are suitably qualified. What’s more, it will help to ensure the products specified and used are compliant with regulations and essentially that they can rest easy knowing they have fulfilled their obligations.


It equally presents a great opportunity for contractors if they apply the regulations correctly to be in a position to educate landlords, with landlords able to rely on installers if issues associated with ventilation do occur.


Familiarity with the latest products


While manufacturers should keep abreast of legislative changes and adapt their products accordingly, in the case of the Homes Act, they aren’t held responsible if a ventilation product isn’t compliant. As such, if an installed ventilation system is discovered to be non-compliant, it could be the installer that is potentially at fault.


Approved Document F refers to four commonly adopted home ventilation strategies including background ventilation and intermittent extract fans, continuous mechanical extract ventilation (MEV), Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) and passive stack ventilation as well as various alternative approaches such as Positive Input Ventilation (PIV). While all of these solutions can be appropriate depending on the application and installation, installers should be paying close attention to the ventilation performance and energy consumption of these techniques to ensure they are compliant. In any case, ventilation should be controllable in order to maintain indoor air quality and avoid wasting energy.


With the Homes Act making specific reference to ventilation, both landlords and contractors should have a general awareness given that they are likely to be dealing with cases where a tenant claims their ventilation system is inadequate. By understanding and applying regulations correctly while working closely with manufacturers to ensure the products they install are compliant, installers will be well placed to become an asset to their customers who are social or private landlords.


For more information on the training course that Elta Fans has developed to assist landlords and those involved in the repair, maintenance and improvement of homes, visit:


www.eltafans.com/homes-act-cpd


* https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/file/775002/EPLS_main_report.pdf


** https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774820/ 2017-18_EHS_Headline_Report.pdf


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Having a full understanding of the UK’s regulaons is crical to assessing whether the exisng venlaon strategy in a home is adequate


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uThe link between condensaon dampness, mould growth and having adequate venlaon is already well established


30 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2019


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