How housing affects our health

Health starts at home.

We all deserve a safe, secure and healthy place to live. But for many people, that isn’t currently the case. In fact, much of the time, housing is making our health worse.

As a Tenancy Services Officer, I support residents facing complex tenancy, safeguarding and wellbeing challenges.

Alongside this, I am also an Associate at Criminology Services Limited, where I analyse youth violence and cultural dynamics within safeguarding and legal contexts. This work is closely linked to housing, geography and health, particularly in understanding how densely populated areas, deprivation and higher crime prevalence shape lived experiences. 

Every day, I see how housing conditions, financial hardship, social isolation and community conflict directly shape health outcomes long before clinical services become involved.

The current state of housing in the UK

In England, 3.7 million households live in ‘non-decent’ homes, costing the NHS an estimated £1.4 billion a year.

On top of this, one in four people across the UK are being made ill from issues like damp, cold and mould (HE).

How poor-quality housing harms health

Housing has a direct impact on physical and mental health.

• Damp and mould can lead to respiratory illnesses, cause infections or trigger asthma attacks.
• Cold temperatures can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Homes in a state of disrepair can lead to hazards and injuries.

There are also many indirect impacts. Unaffordable housing leaves less money for other things that can impact our health positively, like food and exercise. It can also cause stress due to instability or worrying about paying rent.

But these issues aren’t inevitable. By addressing housing stability and quality, we can prevent people’s health from being made worse by their homes and give them the building blocks they need to live a healthy life.

Why the public health workforce needs to understand housing

We need a workforce who are ready to meet the challenges of worsening health outcomes. This means they must understand the foundations that affect our health – including housing.

By embedding public health principles across society and unlocking the potential of the workforce, we can ensure everyone is supported to live happier, healthier lives. This is where education comes in.

How education can help the workforce

In my work, I operate across a multitude of issues: housing stability, trauma, youth vulnerability and inequality. Every day, I see how these problems impact people’s health. I completed the RSPH Public Health Pathway to understand how these issues intersect, and how a preventative approach can help.

Although I have worked for years across housing, youth safeguarding, employability and criminal justice, the pathway helped me consolidate these experiences into a coherent public health framework. It strengthened my understanding of prevention, systems thinking and the structural drivers of inequality.

The pathway also reinforced something I strongly believe: that public health does not sit in one department. It lives in housing estates, schools, youth services, courtrooms and community organisations. The experience helped me sharpen both my language and my leadership within that wider system.

Public health is not just for healthcare professionals. It applies to anyone shaping the conditions in which people live, grow and work.

The future of the workforce

Widening inequalities, climate pressures and rising mental health need is placing significant strain on communities. Without sustained investment in early intervention, disparities will deepen.

If public health principles are embedded across local government, including housing services, we have an opportunity to shift from reactive crisis management to coordinated prevention.

The future of public health depends on collaboration across disciplines. If we unlock the collective potential of the workforce, the next ten years could redefine how we build healthier, more resilient communities.

David is a Fellow of the RSPH. Join us by becoming a member.