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has also acknowledged that Energy Performance Certificates fail to account for ventilation, damp and mould, despite the health risks they cause.


A practical guide for the sector


A reactive approach is no longer tenable. To support the sector, BSRIA has launched BG 90/2026 Mould in Social Housing, a technical guide developed with the UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB). The guide is a shift from reactive maintenance to


Ventilation is the missing link in the mould crisis and the HVAC sector holds the answer


David Bleicher, publications manager at BSRIA explains why, in tackling the country’s mould crisis, contractors, consultants and specifiers must lead the shift from reactive repairs to proactive, whole-building solutions


T


he UK’s mould problem is not going away, and the heating and ventilation industry sits closer to the solution than almost anyone


else. Awaab’s Law has forced damp and mould up the housing agenda, but for HVAC contractors, consultants and specifiers, there is a wider issue to address. Damp and mould are still treated as isolated defects when, in reality, they are the product of how buildings perform, how they are ventilated and how people live in them. Our industry can change that.


A symptom of a deeper problem


Mould is rarely an isolated issue. It is a symptom of wider problems, including underheating, over- occupancy and insufficient maintenance. The typical chain of causation runs from poor building fabric performance and fuel poverty through to inadequate ventilation and mould growth. While occupant behaviour can be a factor, it is too often wrongly blamed. Residents in social housing are often pointed to as the cause of mould in their homes, but that narrative misses the point. Overcrowding and fuel poverty mean many cannot afford to heat their homes adequately, while cooking, drying clothes and showering are everyday activities. In a crowded home that isn’t effectively insulated, ventilation cannot do what it’s supposed to do. It’s unfair to lay that at tenants’ feet.


18 July 2026 The airtightness problem


Policy and practice have been pulling in different directions for too long. The push for energy efficiency has resulted in more airtight homes, often without corresponding improvements in ventilation. While Part L (energy efficiency) of the Building Regulations drives airtightness, Part F (ventilation) is often treated as secondary. Inadequate ventilation leads to mould growth and poor indoor air quality and airtight homes make this worse. The consequences are visible in recent


government programmes. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) found that most homes retrofitted under ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme were non-compliant with ventilation standards, and many installations were contributing to damp and mould. The UK Parliament


Left: David Bleicher, publications manager at BSRIA


proactive diagnosis. It is designed for social housing providers but is equally useful for manufacturers, engineers, consultants and contractors who want to get ahead of problems. A core principle throughout is “no insulation without ventilation”. Balance energy efficiency improvements with effective moisture management to avoid unintended consequences. The guide offers practical advice on implementing upgrades based on proper diagnostics rather than EPC-based assumptions. Regulation is starting to catch up. PAS 2035 has


required ventilation assessment and upgrading since 2019. The 2021 revision of Part F also introduced guidance that ventilation must be assessed whenever energy-efficiency measures are applied, whether new windows or additional insulation.


Getting the specification and installation right


A move towards integrated, whole-building solutions puts real responsibility on the HVAC sector. There is a skills gap across the industry in the design, installation, testing and maintenance of ventilation systems. Today’s buildings demand specialist knowledge, yet ventilation is still treated as a low-skill task. That has to change. Contractors, consultants and specifiers are at the frontline, and their expertise is essential in ensuring new and retrofitted systems are compliant, correctly designed, installed and commissioned. Plans to take all social housing to EPC Band C by 2030 add another layer of concern. Without robust enforcement of ventilation standards, accelerated retrofit programmes risk driving increases in condensation, damp and mould rather than reducing them.


An opportunity for the sector


As retrofit volumes grow and scrutiny over building performance increases, HVAC firms that understand the relationship between airtightness, ventilation and moisture management will be better placed to deliver compliant work and protect both their clients and their reputation. Ventilation deserves the same status as gas or electricity, with the training, specification standards and commissioning rigour to match. Where the HVAC sector leads on this, the health, comfort and energy performance of the UK’s housing stock will follow.


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