UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Experts have urged ministers to tackle the housing crisis, as the report suggests poor-quality homes are damaging the health of millions of older people.
According to a study by the Centre for Ageing Better, 4.5 million individuals aged 50 and over with pre-existing health issues are residing in inadequate homes in England, with issues such as dampness and decay further affecting their health. Within this number, 1.7 million are aged 70 or older.
The British prime minister has committed to reducing NHS waiting times and making Britain the leading major economy by the end of Labour’s first term in government.
Ministers have been warned that the move to stabilise the NHS and promote sustained economic growth will fail unless quick action is taken on the nation’s housing crisis.
As reported by The Guardian, CEO of the Centre for Ageing Better, Dr Carole Easton, stated the charity’s latest findings reveal that the housing crisis is risking the well-being of millions of older individuals with existing medical issues.
He added, “This is obviously terrible for those individuals who live in homes that carry a very real risk of making them sick, particularly when winter comes around.”
Mr Easton said the situation also is harmful to the nation, with older workers living in poor homes struggling to work and help grow the economy.
He further stated, “Older people whose serious health conditions are made worse by their homes will require treatment, putting additional winter pressures on our health system. All could be averted if we tackled poor-quality housing with the urgency and priority it demands.”
The study examined individuals over the age of 50 who suffer from medical conditions like lung diseases, heart failure, neurological disorders, and asthma, worsened by inadequate housing conditions.
Major housing challenges found by the report include rising dampness, water leakage, poor insulation, electrical faults, rot, cold conditions during winter, and structural damage.
The findings also highlighted significant disparities, showing that 46% of black, Asian, and minority ethnic individuals aged 50 and older with health issues had home problems, while about 32% of white people experienced the same.
It also revealed that individuals aged 50 and older from black, Asian, or minority ethnic groups with health issues were twice as likely to experience five or more housing difficulties in contrast to their white counterparts.
People aged 50 and above with medical problems caused by bad housing, were mostly live in London (52%), followed by North-East (35%) and North-West (35%).
According to Holly Holder, the deputy director for homes at the Centre for Ageing Better, “No one should have to live in a home that damages their health, yet it is the norm for far too many people in England today. By failing to address poor-quality homes we are limiting the lives of some of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.”
The Centre for Ageing Better urged the government to address poor quality housing and develop a national plan to enhance home standards and halve the number of unacceptable homes in the next ten years.
A spokesperson from the government stated, “Despite the challenging inheritance faced by this government, through our ‘Plan for Change’ we’re taking action to improve housing conditions across all tenures and ensure homes are decent, safe and warm – especially for the most vulnerable.”
The Labour government has already pledged to construct 1.5 million homes in the next five years, supported by planning changes, green belt land release and compulsory housing goals for local councils.
As part of the new proposals, councils will be tasked with a new target of 370,000 homes annually to tackle housing shortages.