Radon gas in your home: your landlord's responsibility

In short

Radon is a colourless, odourless gas that seeps into homes from the ground. It is the second largest cause of lung cancer in the UK. The UK action level is 200 becquerels per cubic metre. Where tests show radon at or above 300, the HHSRS rating system treats it as a Category 1 hazard, and the landlord carries a legal duty to act. Told the landlord about a radon problem, and watched nothing happen? Call us free on 0800 030 4669.

What radon is and why it matters

Radon forms naturally as uranium in rocks and soil breaks down. It drifts up through the ground and collects inside buildings, above all on lower floors and in basements. It cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted.

Long exposure to high radon raises lung cancer risk sharply. The UK Health Security Agency, UKHSA, publishes detailed guidance at ukhsa.gov.uk. Smoking beside radon exposure raises the risk further.

Which areas have higher radon levels

Radon runs across England and Wales, but some areas hold more, because of the local rock:

• South-West England: Devon, Cornwall, parts of Somerset
• Derbyshire and the Peak District
• Northamptonshire and parts of the East Midlands
• Parts of Wales, above all on granite or limestone bedrock

Check whether your home sits in an affected area on the UKHSA map at ukradon.org.

What the action level means

The UK action level for radon in homes is 200 Bq/m³. UKHSA recommends action at or above it. Under the HHSRS, radon at or above 300 Bq/m³ counts as a Category 1 hazard: the higher threshold letting the council force a landlord to act.

A landlord in an affected area holding a test result above the action level, or one asked to test who refused, may be in breach.

Who pays for testing

Tenants should never have to pay for radon testing. It falls to the landlord, above all in areas where radon is a known worry. Testing devices usually sit in a bedroom and a living room for around three months. The UKHSA advises on accredited testing.

Ask the landlord in writing whether the home was ever tested. Keep every reply, and note any silence.

What mitigation looks like

Where levels run high, the common fixes:

• Positive pressure: a fan pushes air into the building, displacing radon
• Underfloor ventilation: better airflow beneath suspended floors
• A radon sump: a pipe below the floor slab, with a small pump drawing radon out before it enters

These are building works, not minor upkeep. Arranging and paying for them falls to the landlord. The works can cut radon levels by 75 to 90 percent in most cases.

What to do if your landlord ignores it

1. Put the concern in writing, email or letter. Ask whether the home was tested, and request any results.
2. Request testing where none happened, keeping a written record of the ask.
3. Contact the council's environmental health team. They can inspect under the HHSRS, and a Category 1 hazard found means they must act. The service costs nothing.
4. Contact the UKHSA for advice on next steps and accredited testing.
5. Keep all records: written reports, landlord replies, test results.

A landlord who knew of high radon and failed to act may face a housing disrepair claim.

Where we fit in

Support for Tenants helps with housing disrepair claims. A radon problem reported and ignored, touching your health or safety at home, may mean a claim. No upfront cost.

You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing. Call us free on 0800 030 4669, send the short form, or message us on WhatsApp. See also where to get other housing help.

Sources

• UK Health Security Agency, radon guidance (GOV.UK)
• UK radon maps (ukradon.org)
• Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) Regulations 2005 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (legislation.gov.uk)