Safe Homes Now Spotlight: Older people in poor-quality housing

Part of the Centre for Ageing Better's Safe Homes Now spotlight series, this first report, with Independent Age, looks at the impact of poor-quality housing on older people and highlights the urgent need for action.

The spotlight details the health impact from cold and unsafe homes and the cost to the NHS, and in formal and unpaid care costs, of the consequences of older people living in unsafe housing. It also captures the widespread nature of the issue, with 2.6 million people aged over 55 living in a non-decent home, and how people from minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely than white people to be impacted. It shows there are a growing number of older renters who need strengthened rights and support.

Giving numbers and statistics that show the scale of the problem, the document also gives three key recommendations for government to address the poor-quality of housing stock and four actions to strengthen the rights of private renters.

You can read more about the Centre for Ageing Better's Safe Homes Now campaign here.