Passivhaus - the proven route to healthy homes
The message from Government is clear: every home should be warm, dry, comfortable and safe - for good. Homes England's new Healthy Homes guidance and Awaab’s Law together set a higher bar for quality, safety and wellbeing across England’s housing sector.
As social landlords, developers and designers look for reliable ways to meet these expectations, one solution already delivers on all fronts: Passivhaus.
Health and resilience
The Home England Healthy Homes guidance has been designated as a "new foundation for healthier and resilient communities". The guidance calls for homes that support long-term health and wellbeing through good indoor air quality, comfortable temperatures, daylight, accessibility and low energy use.
The health impacts of living in a cold and damp home are well known, and include lung disease (all ages), heart disease and stroke and premature death. The guidance explicitly name-checks Passivhaus as a “well-established design and quality assurance system” for reducing energy demand, addressing the performance gap in new buildings and improving comfort. Notably, it highlights the “significant overlap between a Passivhaus approach and the aims of Healthy Homes”. The Homes England guidance identifies three specific areas (space heating, overheating and ventilation) where social housing built to the Passivhaus standard would demonstrate the Healthy Homes good practice enhancements.
Awaab’s Law, named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died in 2020 after being exposed to mould in his home in Rochdale, makes landlords legally responsible for investigating and resolving damp, mould and other serious hazards within strict timeframe. The new law, officially known as the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025 aims to prevent the multiple health tragedies linked to poor housing conditions.
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Awaab’s Law will help to drive a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of social housing, ensuring tenants are treated with fairness and respect. Matthew Pennycook, Housing Minister |
In addition to the new law's introduction in England in October 2025, the Scottish Government intends to introduce amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill that will broaden Ministers’ powers to impose timeframes on social landlords to investigate disrepair and start repairs, through regulation, following engagement with the sector.
Why Passivhaus delivers on both standards
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Eliminates damp and mould at the source | Passivhaus design tackles condensation risk head-on. A continuous thermal envelope, high insulation and airtightness mean surfaces stay warm and dry - the perfect defence against damp and mould that Awaab’s Law targets.
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Healthy indoor air, all year round | Continuous mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) supplies fresh, filtered air while maintaining warmth. This prevents pollutants and moisture build-up, directly supporting the Healthy Homes Standard’s focus on indoor air quality and comfort.
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Comfort without compromise | Passivhaus buildings stay warm in winter and cool in summer with minimal energy. By modelling and preventing overheating early, they align well with the new standard’s “good practice” comfort benchmarks.
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Energy efficiency that protects people and the planet | Ultra-low energy demand means lower running costs, reduced fuel poverty, and a smaller carbon footprint — all key outcomes under the Healthy Homes Standard’s “efficiency” pillar.
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Built-in performance assurance | Passivhaus certification or building to Passivhaus levels implies rigorous design, modelling, testing and construction control. This helps meet the ethos of proactive hazard prevention embedded in Awaab’s Law rather than reactive repairs.
A smart investment
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For housing providers and local authorities, adopting Passivhaus or “Passivhaus-informed” principles isn’t just a compliance exercise - it’s a proactive investment in resident wellbeing, building longevity and operational resilience. By embedding these principles from the design stage, social landlords can prevent the very hazards Awaab’s Law seeks to eliminate, while also meeting the health, comfort and energy ambitions of the Healthy Homes Standard. You can learn more about how and when to apply the principles during key project milestones in the Passivhaus Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work. The result? Fewer complaints, happier residents, and homes that perform as brilliantly as they look. |
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Building better, for good
The Healthy Homes guidance and Awaab’s Law signal a powerful shift: a national commitment to homes that nurture rather than harm. Passivhaus has been delivering exactly that for over 30 years - evidence-based, people-centred and future-proof.
As the UK raises the bar for housing quality, Passivhaus provides the blueprint to achieve it - a tried, tested and trusted route to healthy, safe and resilient homes for everyone.
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Get more help and guidance via our Passivhaus Learning Hub, get upskilled in Passivhaus with a training course, or find a professional in our Members Directory to help your next project.
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(3).png "Passivhaus Benefits Guidance") |
Further information
Passivhaus Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work
Passivhaus Social Housing | Client Clubs
Misunderstanding Passivhaus Principles
Passivhaus is good for you! - Unlock Net Zero, 19 November 2025
A smart investment
For housing providers and local authorities, adopting Passivhaus or “Passivhaus-informed” principles isn’t just a compliance exercise — it’s a proactive investment in resident wellbeing, building longevity and operational resilience.
By embedding these principles from the design stage, social landlords can prevent the very hazards Awaab’s Law seeks to eliminate, while also meeting the health, comfort and energy ambitions of the Healthy Homes Standard. The result? Fewer complaints, happier residents, and homes that perform as brilliantly as they look.
Building better, for good
The Healthy Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law signal a powerful shift: a national commitment to homes that nurture rather than harm. Passivhaus has been delivering exactly that for over 30 years — evidence-based, people-centred, and future-proof. passivhaustrust.org.uk+1
As the UK raises the bar for housing quality, Passivhaus provides the blueprint to achieve it — a tried, tested and trusted route to healthy, safe and resilient homes for everyone. Read about the key principles of what makes a Passivhaus a robust solution. Discover more in the Passivhaus Overlay to the RIBA Plan of work on how and when to apply the principles during key project milestones.19th November 2000
Get involved with the UK Passivhaus community
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