Abstract
ObjectivesWe sought to determine the impact of warmth-related housing improvements on the health, well-being, and quality of life of families living in social housing.MethodsAn historical cohort study design was used. Households were recruited by Gentoo, a social housing contractor in North East England. Recruited households were asked to complete a quality of life, well-being, and health service use questionnaire before receiving housing improvements (new energy-efficient boiler and double-glazing) and again 12 months afterwards.ResultsData were collected from 228 households. The average intervention cost was £3725. At 12-month post-intervention, a 16% reduction (−£94.79) in household 6-month health service use was found. Statistically significant positive improvements were observed in main tenant and household health status (p < 0.001; p = 0.009, respectively), main tenant satisfaction with financial situation (p = 0.020), number of rooms left unheated per household (p < 0.001), frequency of household outpatient appointments (p = 0.001), and accident/emergency department attendance (p < 0.012).ConclusionsWarmth-related housing improvements may be a cost-effective means of improving the health of social housing tenants and reducing health service expenditure, particularly in older populations.
Highlights
IntroductionIn 2014/2015, an estimated 43,900 United Kingdom (UK) excess winter deaths occurred in the coldest months of the year (December–March) compared to the rest of the year: the highest figure for 15 years [Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2015]
Housing and healthHousing has a major impact on health and well-being
Significant positive improvements were observed in main tenant and household health status (p \ 0.001; p = 0.009, respectively), main tenant satisfaction with financial situation (p = 0.020), number of rooms left unheated per household (p \ 0.001), frequency of household outpatient appointments (p = 0.001), and accident/emergency department attendance (p \ 0.012)
Summary
In 2014/2015, an estimated 43,900 United Kingdom (UK) excess winter deaths occurred in the coldest months of the year (December–March) compared to the rest of the year: the highest figure for 15 years [Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2015]. 36,300 of these deaths occurred amongst people aged 75 and over. Cold homes, those below 16 °C, cause a substantially increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions (Mason and Roys 2011). Respiratory disease was the underlying cause for over a third of the excess winter deaths in 2014/2015 (ONS 2015). When mitigated by likelihood and severity, cold and damp are two of the most significant housing hazards in the UK (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health 2008). In 2015, a fifth of homes in England failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard; it is estimated that 16% of private rented homes and 12% of housing association homes still have no form of central heating (Department for Communities and Local Government 2017)
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