The All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group and All-Party Parliamentary Health Group jointly hosted a parliamentary reception on Living and Beathing: Healthy Air at Home on 22 April, 2024.  

Chaired by Barry Sheerman MP, the reception convened experts and stakeholders in housing, health, and clean air to share their learning and expertise on maintaining healthy home environments. Richard Blakeway, the Housing Ombudsman, shared how the ombudsman service deals with complaints in the social housing sector, highlighting the home health and safety challenges faced in the social housing sector.  

This was followed by a presentation from Prof Sani Dimitroulopoulou from the UK Health Security Agency, who shared their research and contributions towards setting standards and regulations pertaining to indoor air quality in the UK. Importantly, she shared the value of maintaining indoor air quality to ensure the health and wellbeing of tenants.  

Featured presentations concluded with Luke Spanton from the Department of Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities, who detailed impending updates to the Decent Homes Standard and future regulations to improve the standard of housing for social and private housing.  

Following the presentations, a panel discussion featuring Innovate UK, representatives of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, local authorities and fire services focussed on the need for better information sharing with tenants, consistent standards, and regulations applicable to both private and social housing, and how a joined-up approach to improving air quality can be achieved.  

Policy Connect will develop a Clean Air at Home manifesto that will incorporate learnings and recommendations to improve healthy home environments through legislation and collaboration.