UK Landlords: your guide to the Homes Act

The UK Homes Act requires you as a landlord to consider whether your tenants' indoor air is safe. Five key air contaminants are listed in the legislation, and though they are pretty serious, monitoring will ensure you can prevent a problem before it occurs. That’s why we have broken it down for you. Once you know what to look out for, following the rules is quite straightforward.

Which air contaminants should I monitor? 

Radon gas

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. In fact, exposure to indoor radon gas is linked to 4% of lung cancer cases in the UK³. Radon enters buildings through cracks and other holes in the foundation, getting trapped at any level of the property. It is odourless, colourless and invisible. 

Damp and mould growth

Unsurprisingly, damp and mould growth is the very first concern listed. An enormous 61% of UK renters were reported to have suffered damp, mouldy or leaking roofs¹. A costly problem in more ways than one. People are 40% more likely to develop asthma in a damp or mouldy home². The damage to the property is also problematic as it can cause serious structural damage to a building as it feeds on and breaks down organic matter. 

VOCs are a combination of gases and odours emitted found in everyday products. Paints, new furniture and even cleaning products emit VOCs, but they are invisible to the naked eye.

Excess cold and heat

Possibly the most common air quality complaint to landlords, it’s also the easiest for tenants to notice. In addition, excess heat or cold can cause damage to a property such as burst pipes. 

I'm a landlord, where can I get more information on the Homes Act?

Read our Homes Act guide today  →

The Solution

As these contaminants are hard to detect for you as a landlord, one easy solution is to monitor the indoor air quality in each of your properties. By doing so, you can show the tenants you are ensuring their health and safety, be alerted if there is a problem and act fast to prevent damage. Airthings offer a range of indoor air quality and radon monitors to suit everyone's needs including homeowners, businesses, radon professionals, landlords and tenants. 

The Airthings House Kit is a great choice. The indoor air quality and radon system allows you to remotely monitor the air quality effortlessly. Log in to the Airthings Dashboard from anywhere at any time to see up to date readings.  You can even set up notifications and act before the air quality causes damage. Use the data or radon report as evidence that you are monitoring the air quality, and putting your tenants first.