Healthy homes: NHS initiatives to improve health by improving homes

This report by the Centre for Ageing Better aims to raise awareness of the links between health and homes and provide examples of local systems that have developed cross-sector initiatives to improve residents’ health by tackling problems in the home.

Homes are crucial to health, as people spend much of their time there. A healthy home supports well-being through clean air, proper temperature, safety and comfort. However, nearly 8 million people in England live in substandard housing, with many more in homes just above minimum standards that still risk health.

Poor housing conditions create avoidable strain on the NHS and social care systems, costing the NHS £1.1 billion annually to address related health issues, primarily affecting those aged 55 and over. Additionally, poor housing for older adults incurs £1.1 billion in formal care costs and £3.5 billion in unpaid care. These issues exacerbate workforce pressure, waiting lists and health inequalities.

This report brings together evidence from a range of sources including the Centre for Ageing Better and West Yorkshire Integrated Care System’s jointly funded evaluation of the area’s Winter Warmth programme, an NHS-funded intervention to improve the health and wellbeing of the local population through home improvement and fuel poverty interventions. 

The paper concludes with a summary of the lessons learnt and provides ideas for local areas interested in exploring similar initiatives.