Poor quality housing is costing the NHS billions of pounds a year, a new study has revealed.
A new report from the Building Research Establishment (BRE) has calculated that poor housing costs the NHS £1.4bn a year.
Poor housing is defined as ‘a dwelling that fails to meet the statutory minimum standard of housing in England’, i.e. a dwelling that contains one or more Category 1 Hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
The study also found that for every £1 spent on warming up the homes of vulnerable households £4 is made back in health benefits.
The NHS spends £383m a year treating homeowners with illnesses related to cold living conditions.
The BRE estimates that for less than £1,000, 40% of all poor housing that is owned outright or with a mortgage could be improved and the NHS would start to save money in about seven years.
