Homes are more than merely a roof over our heads; they support our mental and physical well-being and enable us to thrive at work, in school, and in our personal lives. Our aim at the Nationwide Foundation is for everyone to have a decent, affordable place to call home. But sadly, this is far from reality for many – as 3.7 million homes (15%) in England failed to meet the decent homes standard in 2021, risking the health and safety of millions of people across the country.
That’s why when we published Decent and affordable homes for all: five recommendations for a fairer housing system in July, our fifth recommendation was to:
Why should health be at the heart of housing policy?
When our homes are of a decent standard, the comfort and security they provide enrich our lives and support our health and wellbeing. But too many homes and neighbourhoods built today are putting residents’ physical and mental health at risk. Standards for new homes and places are fragmented, complex, and do not guarantee that all new homes provide for residents’ basic human needs, such as access to green space, local services, and clean air.
For example:
- 6 million homes (11%) were found to be poor quality and ‘hazardous’ to occupants in 2021
- 7 million homes (15%) in England failed to meet the decent homes standard in 2021
- People from more disadvantaged groups are more likely to be living in poor quality housing – 22% of people in the lowest quintile income group live in poor quality homes, compared to 4% in the top quintile income group
- People living in poor quality homes are twice as likely to have poor general health than people who do not (11% of people compared to 22%)
How can this be achieved?
To end of the creation of unhealthy homes, the government should mandate that all new housing, including those built through permitted development, is built in line with the Healthy Homes Principles developed by the Town and Country Planning Association (shown below). Cross-departmental work is needed to coordinate housing policy, environmental policy, health policy, transport, and economic policy to build the healthy homes the nation needs.
The Labour government has made the creation of new towns (planned urban developments in currently underdeveloped areas) central to its mission of building 1.5 million homes over the coming parliamentary term. This presents a rare opportunity to address many of the failures of the current development model and build homes in a way that prioritises health and wellbeing over short-term viability. We hope to work with the new government to make this vision a reality.
The 12 Healthy Homes principles:
What are our other recommendations?
Our five proposals for a fairer housing system:
- Reimagine our housing system: agree a long-term vision to achieve Homes for All
- Increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes
- Transform the private rented sector to better protect tenants
- Support the growth of community-led housing to diversify the housing market and deliver more homes at prices people can afford, in places where they are needed and wanted.
- Place tackling health inequalities at the heart of housing policy
You can read all the proposals in more detail on our website.