Landlords Responsibility for Radon
Radon Risk Assessments and Surveys
Radon Risk Assessments for Landlords
Landlords have a responsibility to their tenants under the Duty of Care and the Housing Act to provide a safe home. Radon is identified as a potential hazard in dwellings in the Housing Act 2004. Every landlord, housing association, and/or property management company must therefore demonstrate that they have considered radon in their risk assessments and taken appropriate action if required.
Radon is a serious issue throughout the UK. Whilst every building contains some level of radon the levels are usually low, so the risk to health is small. However, in some parts of the country e.g. South West England, Bristol, Kent, areas of Wales, Cumbria, and parts of the Peak District to name a few, buildings and grounds may have higher levels of radon and there may be a need for radon monitoring in specific areas.
Earth Environmental & Geotechnical has experience and expertise in providing full Radon Risk Assessments, Monitoring, and Mitigation for landlords, housing associations, and/or property management companies. We can provide a full service for all Radon Risk Areas.
Radon Risk Assessments, Surveys and Monitoring
Radon Risk Assessments for Landlords, Housing Associations, and Property Management
Actions for properties in radon Affected Areas
Landlords, Housing Associations, and/or Property Management companies should carry out three–month radon measurements in the premises for which they are responsible, and have been identified as being in radon Affected Areas. Even with radon potential maps, no one can predict the radon level in an individual building, so the only way to know for sure is to place a number of small radon monitors throughout your properties.
It is the responsibility of all landlords, Housing Associations, and/or Property Management companies to ensure that you know if your properties are in a Radon affected area
At Earth Environmental & Geotechnical we have a comprehensive range of Radon Survey services for Landlords, Housing Associations, and/or Property Management companies. If you would like further advice contact us to discuss your Radon Risk Assessment Needs.
All landlords have a duty of care towards their tenants to ensure there are no hazards present in the property they are letting. In line with Housing Health and Rating System (HHSRS), which forms part of the Housing Act 2004, “if the dwelling is in an Affected Area….as radon levels can vary widely between apparently identical dwellings, the only way to determine whether or not there is a threat to health is by measurement.
How Do You Know if Your Tenants Rental property or Land Have Higher Levels of Radon?
If you have identified that your rental properties are in a high risk area, how do you identify the specific radon risk?
Earth Environmental & Geotechnical work with Local Authorities, Property developers, housing associations, landlords, and employers to help identify the radon risk for your property or building development. We provide a comprehensive range of Radon Survey, Detection, and Monitoring Services.
We also have MARKUS 10 instruments that allows for in-situ measurement of radon gas in soils. The Markus 10 can provide a clear understanding of the radon levels in the soil of your property’s site and can quickly allow for an informed decision on whether the site requires radon mitigation measures, this is especially important if you are planning any further development on your properties’ land.
For further information on radon monitoring and detection for housing associations, landlords and property management companies please contact Earth Environmental & Geotechnical now
Radon Gas Information for Landlords and Tenants
Landlords need to ensure that there are no hazards present, including the level that might exist on the land. Whilst boilers and electrical installation are maintained, Radon is often overlooked. The British Landlords Association – The BLA found that whilst many landlords were aware of radon they were not aware of their responsibility to ensure that radon was included in their risk assessments.
Commercial Landlords should check as part of a property’s risk assessment that Radon Gas is not present or over the acceptable level.
For further information on radon monitoring and detection for housing associations, landlords and property management companies please contact Earth Environmental & Geotechnical now
Check Your Postcode Now
How To Safeguard Your Tenants Against Radon:
Step 1 – Check – are your properties in a Risk Area. Enter your tenant’s Post Code to find out
Don’t forget to click the SHOW RADON DATA red button on the left-hand side.
Step 2 – Measure – if your housing Association or tenant’s property is in a Radon Risk Area you need to take Radon Measurements
Step 3 – Act – If your result is at or above the UK Action Level for a domestic dwelling of 200 Bq m-3
You can find out more information here
Don’t Forget your Radon Risk Assessments for your properties or housing association should always include any basement that is occupied. Testing must be carried out if any of your properties have a basement or cellar, regardless of geographic location.
Recently Updated Radon Map for Great Britain.
In December 2023 the radon risk area maps were updated for the first time in 10 years. Your property portfolio may now be in a radon risk area. Please check your postcode now and take action if you are now in a risk area.
As the radon maps show there are areas throughout the UK that have a higher risk of elevated radon including:
- Wales
- South West England
- South England – Kent -Folkstone, Dover
- Scotland
- North England – Peak District, Derbyshire, Cumbria,
- North West
- North East
- Northern Ireland
Indeed all areas of the UK have sections of land/buildings with Radon risk where the Maximum radon potential is greater than 30%.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the British Geological Survey (BGS) have published an updated radon potential map for Great Britain.
The risk of developing lung cancer from exposure to radon remains low and the vast majority of buildings remain outside Affected Areas.
Individuals and employers are encouraged to check the map to see if a radon test is advised in homes and workplaces in their area.
Postcodes have moved into High Risk Areas so please check now!
The updated radon potential map, produced by UKHSA and BGS, is the first in over 10 years and provides an authoritative analysis of the likelihood of a building being in a radon Affected Area (an area with higher radon potential).
Radon is a colourless and odourless gas that is attributed to 1,100 lung cancer deaths per year in the United Kingdom. The risk is highest among smokers and ex-smokers.
For most people, the risk of developing lung cancer from exposure to radon remains low and levels of radon have not increased across the UK. However, UKHSA advises you to test your home if you live or work in an Affected Area. There are several methods of reducing high radon levels in buildings.
The latest update to the map, available to view at UKradon.org, is the product of years of new analysis and research, combining the latest geological mapping with one of the largest databases of in-home measurements ever compiled.
While the vast majority of buildings remain outside radon Affected Areas, this new map has refined our knowledge of areas where high radon levels are more likely to occur. The overall number of buildings with high radon levels remains the same.
The radon map allows local councils, national and regional governments, social and private landlords, private homeowners, and employers to assess the radon risk in their properties. It is also used in building regulations to inform where radon preventative measures should be incorporated in new buildings.
