Abstract
Social housing residents often struggle with achieving adequate levels of warmth in their home on a limited household budget. Additionally, other housing problems such as damp are common. Previous research has found a link between housing problems and poor health and reduced well-being, but this relationship is complex and poorly understood. A survey among UK social housing residents (N=536) investigated the association between cold and damp housing, as well as the role of energy affordability concerns in the relationship between housing problems and health. The findings indicated that struggles with keeping warm related to a cluster of damp and mould issues rather than any one specific issue. In describing these problems householders expressed a sense of frustration and helplessness. Support was found for an indirect effect on health whereby households experiencing cold, damp or mould issues reported more difficulty with affording their energy bills, these affordability concerns in turn related to poor health and well-being. The effects were found to be more consistent and stronger for men compared to women. Policies aimed at reducing housing problems should consider the important role of affordability concerns and the need for households to regain control of their energy bills.
Highlights
Social housing is provided by most European countries for vulnerable or low income households (European Parliament, 2013)
Given the apparent central role of affordability concerns in the relationship between housing conditions and health, this research suggests that low income households will be vulnerable to the impact of housing problems
This is in line with previous studies, which have shown that the health impacts of improving energy efficiency are especially positive for individuals in low income households (Maidment et al, 2014)
Summary
Social housing is provided by most European countries for vulnerable or low income households (European Parliament, 2013). A common European definition of fuel poverty is lacking, but it is often described as the inability to keep the home adequately warm – resulting mainly from low household income, high energy costs and poor energy efficiency of the house (Antanasiu et al, 2014). The research takes a two-part approach: first, the study examines householders’ self-reported experiences with cold, condensation, damp and mould using both quantitative and qualitative responses, focusing on the specific housing problems associated with cold housing. It examines the relationship between housing problems (cold, condensation, damp and mould) and health and well-being reported. The research investigates the role of energy affordability concerns within this relationship – it asks whether worries about energy costs may partly underlie the association between housing problems and low health and well-being
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