Healthy Homes

The ISSE, the NHS, councils, and the government all understand how the quality of housing affects the health and well-being of their residents.  

ISSE are aware of and are working with a range of partners to look at conditions that are directly linked to living in cold, damp and dangerous homes.

With both councils’ and private landlords’ owning properties in Britain, and as housing stocks get older, the issues with the condition of these properties, will continue to have a substantial impact on health.

The number of people living in decent homes has been recognised as being not just of benefit to the occupiers but also to the wider community and to society.

Homes play the most important role in providing occupiers with opportunities and contribute to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) definition of health as: “a complete state of physical, mental and social well being.”

The relationship between poor housing and health is complex and difficult to assess, but there are a number of ways in which you can help to improve your own property, and help protect against poorer health or health issues.

Cold, damp, and poor housing is associated with increased risks of:

Cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, depression and anxiety.

This can be due to damp, mould, excessive cold and structural defects. 

A warm, dry and secure home is associated with better health,

Elderly members of the population are particularly at risk of health problems relating to accidents and excess cold in the home. Some may have a cold home because of the expense of heating, but fuel poverty is closely related to the energy efficiency of a house, as well as to income and fuel prices.