William Eichler 27 June 2019

Over 500,000 social housing tenants in poverty due to smoking

Over half a million social housing tenants are living in poverty due to the cost of smoking, anti-smoking campaigners say.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has urged social landlords to provide additional support to tenants to help them stop smoking.

One in seven (512,000) social tenants are living in poverty because of the impact of smoking costs on their disposable income, the campaign group argues.

A third of those living in social housing smoke, which is twice the national average. On average, tobacco costs these tenants £2,600 per year – over £50 per week.

Around 28% of social tenants are currently in rent arrears. ASH argues that for those who smoke, quitting would allow their rent arrears to be cleared in an average of nine weeks.

ASH is urging social landlords to support their tenants by providing information and advice on the financial gains of quitting or cutting down.

Social landlords could also collaborate with local NHS and public health teams to ensure tenants are aware of available stop smoking support.

‘Stopping smoking has enormous health benefits but also dramatically improves tenants’ and landlords’ finances,’ said Ciaran Osborne, director of policy at ASH.

‘Most social housing tenants want to quit smoking and doing so can help them climb out of rent arrears and debt.

‘If social landlords take a more proactive approach to supporting their tenants to quit, everyone benefits except the tobacco industry.’

The £37,000 SEND Problem image

The £37,000 SEND Problem

Natalie Kenneison, COO at Imosphere, argues that the real SEND funding crisis isn’t just about budgets - it’s about the systems behind the decisions.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Engineer - Urban Traffic Control (UTC)

Liverpool City Council
£44,711 - £49,764
Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic and engaged communities. Liverpool, Merseyside
Recuriter: Liverpool City Council

Social Worker Campaign - Adult Services

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Negotiable
Support residents to live more independently, with compassion at the heart of your workSupport residents to live more independently, with compassion a England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Prinicipal Surveyor

Durham County Council
Grade 14 £ 48,710 to £52,805 pa (Pay Award Pending)
We are looking for an individual who has specialist knowledge of property and property processes and who has a professional, positive, enthusiastic an Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Customer Service Adviser (Saturday)

Oxfordshire County Council
£24404 - £24790
About the Role Customer Service Advisers are the first point of contact with library customers and library partners. The role involves continual interaction with users of the library, face to face, via email or by telephone and is a job where you can have Summertown Library, South Parade, Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Continuous Improvement Audit Lead

Oxfordshire County Council
£57178 - £60485
About the Role The Continuous Improvement Audit Lead will work collaboratively across our Children, Education and Families directorate, using learning from quality assurance activity to strengthen and develop all areas of children’s services’ skills, Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council
Linkedin Banner