Heat is no longer a background worry for social housing residents
When Awaab Ishak died in 2020 from a respiratory infection linked to prolonged exposure to mould and damp in his family's Rochdale council flat, his death triggered a national reckoning with social housing standards. More than four years later, the legislation named in his memory has forced landlords to act on the problems that killed him. But the latest Health and Housing survey reveals something unexpected: whilst damp and mould remain the leading health concern for social housing staff, excessive heat is rapidly climbing the worry list.
More than one in ten housing staff now identify excessive heat as their biggest resident health concern. That's a significant shift in the space of just a few years, and it reflects both the changing climate and the unintended consequences of fixing one housing problem whilst overlooking another.
What the data tells us about housing conditions
The Health and Housing survey, conducted in partnership with Aico, offers a window into how frontline housing workers see the quality of homes they manage. These staff interact with residents daily. They witness the practical impact of poor housing conditions. When they flag heat as a major concern, it's not abstract worry; it's based on real conversations and visible problems.
Damp and mould still tops the list of health worries, which makes sense given the regulatory focus Awaab's Law has placed on these issues since its introduction. Landlords have invested heavily in identifying and treating moisture problems. Surveyors have been instructed to prioritise damp inspections. The legislation has teeth, with formal timescales for repair and potential enforcement action.
But in addressing one crisis, the sector may be creating headroom for another. As homes become better sealed to prevent damp, without adequate ventilation or cooling systems in place, they're becoming hotter. And unlike damp, which develops slowly over months, heat poses an immediate threat during summer months.
Why heat matters more than many homeowners realise
Excessive indoor temperatures don't just feel uncomfortable. They're a genuine health risk, particularly for vulnerable groups: the elderly, young children, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. A person living in a flat that reaches 30 degrees Celsius indoors on a 25-degree outdoor day isn't simply inconvenienced. They're at increased risk of heat-related illness.
Social housing residents are disproportionately likely to be from these vulnerable groups. They're also more likely to live in converted Victorian properties, new-build flats, or tower blocks. These building types tend to either retain heat intensely (solid Victorian terraces) or lack natural shading and cross-ventilation (modern flats facing south or west).
For homeowners and buy-to-let investors, this matters too. With the current average house price sitting at £271,295 and many properties struggling to shift in a slower market, homes that overheat in summer are becoming harder to sell or let. Buyers and tenants increasingly expect homes to maintain a comfortable temperature without excessive cooling costs.
The broader housing standards challenge
Awaab's Law has been landmark legislation. Its first phase forced landlords to respond to damp and mould complaints within strict timescales. A second phase is coming, with new requirements around heat networks in social housing. But housing standards rarely involve fixing one problem in isolation. Each intervention creates ripple effects.
Staff working in social housing are observing this firsthand. As they manage the implementation of damp fixes, they're simultaneously fielding complaints about summer heat. The survey reflects that reality: two major health hazards competing for attention and resources.
For private homeowners and sellers, the lesson is practical. If you're selling a period property or a modern flat, and summer temperatures in the property are noticeably high, addressing this before a sale or before letting out a room can make a real difference to its appeal and value. Better ventilation, external shading, or passive cooling measures are relatively modest investments compared to the impact they have on marketability.
What happens next
The gap between damp concerns and heat concerns won't close by ignoring one or the other. Housing providers will need to think holistically about indoor environmental quality, not just one metric at a time. That means balancing moisture control with thermal comfort, ensuring homes stay dry without becoming ovens.
For residents, particularly those in social housing, it means continuing to report problems and trusting that landlords will address them. For property owners and investors, it's a reminder that modern housing standards are becoming broader and more demanding. A home that complies with damp regulations but overheats is only solving half the problem.
The Health and Housing survey shows the system is listening and adapting. The fact that staff are flagging heat as a major concern suggests awareness is growing. Whether the housing sector can act on that awareness as quickly as it has on damp remains to be seen.