GOOD HOUSING = BETTER HEALTH

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1 GOOD HOUSING = BETTER HEALTH ALAN MURIE CHRIS WATSON UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

2 GOOD HOUSING = BETTER HEALTH AND WELLBEING A paper by a group of academics and practitioners The Good Housing: Better Health Academic Practitioner Partnership

3 CAN WE TACKLE THE GROWING HOUSING CRISIS WITH DIMINISHED RESOURCES? The recent policy approach Rely on the market A less restrictive planning system Starter Homes and Shared Ownership Filtering and Turnover The approach has been to rely on increasing housing supply through the market with minimal public expenditure, social housing or targeting

4 CAN WE TACKLE THE GROWING HOUSING CRISIS WITH DIMINISHED RESOURCES? The recent policy approach has been to rely on increasing housing supply through the market with minimal public expenditure, social housing or targeting Housing Supply has remained low Filtering and Turnover do not work Expansion of Private renting at expense of social renting and home ownership Housing Problems have increased: overcrowding, sharing, HMOs, inadequate and inappropriate housing, homelessness. The Growing Housing Crisis is partly Policy Induced

5 BROADENING THE DEBATE The current housing crisis requires action to both increase housing supply and make the best use of existing housing Unhealthy housing holds back the economy - and generates costs to public services We urgently need a new approach

6 WHAT S THE EVIDENCE? The UK has the oldest stock - and the highest medical costs associated with inadequate housing - of any EU member state 20% of housing in England does not meet the Decent Home Standard 30% of households renting privately are in housing below this standard

7 WHAT S THE EVIDENCE? Cold housing and fuel poverty lead to excess winter deaths; and negatively affect children s educational attainment, emotional wellbeing and resilience Inadequate and insecure housing and overcrowding affect educational performance, health and participation in the economy

8 WHAT S THE EVIDENCE? 12% of the UK s carbon emissions come from housing. Improvements in thermal efficiency are essential for targets to reduce carbon emissions to be met Many households in unhealthy housing are unable to remedy the problem themselves

9 WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS? Increased funding and other support to upgrade older housing will generate substantial and continuing savings in the costs of health care - and will contribute to better education, employment and economic outcomes

10 WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS? We must balance the policy emphasis on new building and address the condition, affordability, suitability, appropriateness and security of existing housing All housing should be treated as part of the infrastructure crucial to strengthening economic development and improving productivity, health and education

11 WHAT ARE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS? A new Ministerial position is needed to coordinate and animate a new approach to housing....and how it interacts with economic, social, health, education, energy, climate change and other policy areas

12 WHAT ARE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS? Policies for existing as well as new housing should be integral parts of local economic strategies Local authorities must review housing conditions and be able to address the worst, most difficult and persistent housing quality problems

13 EMERGING QUESTIONS? Policies for existing as well as new housing as integral parts of local economic strategies The role of Combined authorities? Policy planning and coordination working across administrative and professional boundaries? Local authorities must review housing conditions and be able to address the worst, most difficult and persistent housing quality problems Using powers licensing, HMOs. Capacity and costs..

14 MEMBERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP ARE FROM Building Research Establishment Care & Repair England Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Chartered Institute of Housing De Montfort University, Leicester Housing Vision International Federation of Environmental Health Northern Housing Consortium Public Health England Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Warwick

15 FURTHER INFORMATION For more information on Good Housing: Better Health and a copy of the report, please visit: For further information about the Academic-Practitioner Partnership, please contact: Peter Archer at: peterarcherrhs@btinternet.com, or Christopher Watson at: c.j.watson@bham.ac.uk

Warmer Healthier Homes: A Consultation Paper on a new Fuel Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland

Warmer Healthier Homes: A Consultation Paper on a new Fuel Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland A Response by the Chartered Institute of Housing in Northern Ireland September 2010 The Chartered Institute