William Eichler 04 April 2023

Poor housing costs NHS £1.4bn a year

Poor housing costs NHS £1.4bn a year   image
Image: Adam J/Shutterstock.com.

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.

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