We are responsible for assessing the level of radon gas present and the risk within council properties so have introduced a programme of testing in these areas, to provide a better understanding of the impact and allow the council to prioritise any remedial work if necessary.
Some areas in Leeds have been identified by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to be a radon affected area which means they are at risk of having higher levels of radon gas.
Radon is a naturally occurring, colourless, odourless, radio-active gas which is formed in the ground and found everywhere in the UK. It seeps to the surface and can build up inside properties.
How to know if your property is affected
The only way to be sure is to test. If your property is in an identified Radon area, we may contact you directly and provide you with further information and a test kit.
Testing
Testing is easy and everything will be sent to you through the post.
You will receive:
- two small radon monitors, one for your main living room and another for your main bedroom
- simple instructions explaining where to place the monitors
They stay in place for three months and are then returned for analysis. (Radon levels in houses vary substantially from day to day as they are influenced by weather conditions. Radon measurements are conducted over three months or more to average out short-term fluctuations.)
After 3 months the council will collate the data and will inform you of the results. If high levels of radon gas are found, we will take action to reduce the levels.
If the levels in your home are high
Once you have had the tests in your home for the three-month period, we will get in touch if further work or action is required. Work to reduce Radon is very simple and won't be too disruptive.
Further testing to monitor levels will continue to be carried out.
The amount of radon is measured in becquerels per cubic metre of air (Bq m-3). The average level in UK homes is 20 Bq m-3. For levels below 100 Bq m-3, your individual risk remains relatively low and not a cause for concern. However, the risk increases as the radon level increases.
If testing shows that radon levels are above 200 becquerels, action will be taken to reduce the levels within your home.
Further information
More information can be found on the UK radon website including:
- health risks
- levels and reduction
- interactive map of radon-affected areas in the UK
You can also contact us by emailing:
