Ventilation in social housing retrofit

How does ventilation fit into social housing retrofit?

Retrofits under government-funded schemes such as ECO4 and the Warm Homes programmes follow PAS 2035, which requires a ventilation assessment and, where mould or condensation is present, an upgraded system such as MEV or MVHR. Ventilation is not optional in these projects; it is a core part of the whole-house retrofit process.

PAS 2035 sets out that ventilation must be assessed alongside the energy measures, so that insulating and airtightening a home does not create an air quality problem. Functional testing confirms the ventilation works after the retrofit. For social housing done at scale, this is the framework that keeps it safe.

Sources: Retrofit Academy

Why is ventilation critical in social housing retrofit?

Insulating and airtightening a home without sorting its ventilation traps moisture and causes damp and mould, which is a well documented and serious problem in the sector. The ventilation assessment and functional testing required by PAS 2035 exist precisely to prevent this. Getting ventilation right is what makes an energy retrofit safe as well as efficient.

Damp and mould in social housing have been the subject of serious concern and reform, and poorly ventilated retrofits are one cause. Treating ventilation as an afterthought is exactly the mistake PAS 2035 is designed to stop. For tenants, adequate ventilation is a health issue, not just a comfort one.

What ventilation is used in social housing retrofit?

Often continuous mechanical extract, MEV or dMEV, and in deeper retrofits MVHR. Positive input ventilation is also used to tackle condensation in existing stock. The choice follows the level of retrofit and the airtightness achieved: the more the home is sealed, the more it needs a continuous, whole-house mechanical system.

For a light-touch retrofit of a leakier home, improved extract or PIV may be enough. For a deep retrofit that makes the home airtight, MVHR or continuous extract is appropriate. The retrofit assessment identifies which, based on the specific home and the measures being installed.

Who is responsible for ventilation in social housing?

The landlord or housing provider commissioning the retrofit is responsible, working through a retrofit coordinator under PAS 2035, for assessing and providing adequate ventilation. Tenants should report persistent condensation or mould so it can be addressed. In a rented home, sorting a ventilation problem is the providers duty, not the tenants.

The retrofit coordinator role exists to hold the whole process together, including ventilation, so responsibility does not fall through the gaps. For a tenant, the practical step is to report damp and mould promptly and clearly, as that triggers the providers duty to investigate and fix the cause.