The little-known home health risk that only one in eight have checked for – are you vulnerable?

A new study has revealed that only one in eight UK adults have ever checked the radon levels in their homes – despite it being one of the leading causes of lung cancer, after tobacco smoke.[1] A huge 88% said they’ve never checked for this invisible hazard in their property, meaning they could be being exposed to dangerously high levels of the gas without even realising.

The figures come from the latest survey by Go.Compare home insurance. Radon, a type of radioactive gas that comes from rocks and soil, is found across the UK, but some buildings and areas have higher levels than others.[2] 

The gas poses a health risk at these higher levels, particularly for smokers and ex-smokers, causing an estimated 3% to 14% of all lung cancer cases.[3] This makes it one of the leading causes of the disease. Properties can be tested for high radon levels, and action can be taken to reduce the risks, but few residents appear to be checking whether their property is vulnerable.

Further statistics from the comparison site indicate that a low awareness is a key reason for this, revealing that less than one-fifth (15%) know of the risks presented by high radon exposure in the home. This means many Brits could be living in a property or area with dangerously high radon levels without even realising it.

Overall, 51% of respondents admitted that radon is something that they’ve never even thought of, but awareness appears to be much higher among men and younger age groups, based on the findings. Around a quarter (26%) of under-35s said they know about the dangers posed, a figure which drops to just over one in 10 (11%) among those older than this. Similarly, a fifth (20%) of men stated that they knew of these dangers, almost twice the percentage of women (11%).

Nathan Blackler, home insurance spokesperson at Go.Compare, said: “High radon exposure can pose some serious health risks if left unaddressed, but while this invisible gas sounds alarming, there is plenty that can be done to address it.

“The UK Health Security Agency can carry out a radon risk report for your home for as little as £3.90, which will tell you if it is in a radon-affected area.[2] If so, you can get a test to see if the levels in your property are dangerously high, which costs around the £50 mark. If you’re in doubt over whether you’re at risk, it’s probably worth arranging a report then potentially a test to make sure you’re not being unknowingly exposed to high levels. If you are, you will likely need to take action to reduce these levels for your own safety, which can cost anywhere from £200 to £2,000.[3]

“Standard home insurance usually won’t cover radon, and addressing it can end up costly. So, if you’re buying a home in an area that tends to be worse affected by radon, it can often be worth checking if the property has high radon levels before you move. You can ask the current owners if they’ve tested and to see a copy of the report. If they haven’t tested, you can get a test when you’ve moved in. Solicitors can then organise some money to be held back from the sale to help with the works.”

More radon statistics can be found on Go.Compare’s website.