Skip to content

Hertfordshire
search button
Hertfordshire County Council


Healthy homes are...

  • shelters that support a state of physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
  • homes that give people a sense of belonging, security, and privacy.
  • strong and safe structures.
  • within communities that encourage social interactions and support health and wellbeing.
  • located close to services, green spaces, and public transport
  • protected from waste, pollution, and natural or man-made disasters.

 

Unhealthy homes create higher health risks for people who…

  • have pre-existing health conditions like allergies, asthma, cystic fibrosis, other lung diseases, and cardiovascular disease are at risk of their conditions worsening and are more likely to develop fungal infections or additional allergies.
  • have weakened immune systems including those with cancer, those receiving chemotherapy, transplant patients, and individuals on medications that weaken their immune system.
  • have mental health conditions.
  • are pregnant or have recently given birth - due to having a weakened immune system.
  • are bedbound, housebound or have mobility problems - making it more difficult for them to get out of a home and into fresh air

 

Unhealthy homes also affect...

Children and young people

House coloured red

Unhealthy homes increase the risk of:

• respiratory problems

• poor infant weight gain

• poor diet

• emotional and mental health problems

• physical injury and poisoning

• domestic fires.

 

House coloured yellow

Overcrowded homes increase the risk of:

• behavioural and mental health problems

• meningitis

• respiratory illness

• tuberculosis

• physical injury

• tobacco harm.

 

House coloured green

Precarious housing increases the risk of:

• emotional, behavioural and mental health problems

• low birth weight

• missing immunisations.

 

Older people

House coloured red

Unhealthy homes increase the risk of:

• respiratory illness

• cardiovascular problems

• excess winter deaths

• physical injuries, particularly from falls

• domestic fires.

 

House coloured yellow

Unsuitable homes increase the risk of:

• physical injuries, particularly from falls

• general health deterioration following a fall

• social isolation.

 

House coloured green

Precarious housing and homelessness increases the risk of:

• physical and mental health problems

• alcohol and drug misuse

• suicide

• tobacco harm

• tuberculosis.

 

People of working age

House coloured red

Unhealthy homes increase the risk of:

• respiratory illness

• cardiovascular problems

• mental health problems.

 

House coloured yellow

Overcrowded homes increase the risk of:

• mental health problems

• respiratory illness

• tuberculosis

• tobacco harm.

 

House coloured green

Precarious housing and homelessness increases the risk of:

• physical and mental health problems

• alcohol and drug misuse

• suicide

• tobacco harm

• tuberculosis.

 

 

Why it matters?

  • Living in poor-quality housing (for example, one that is damp, cold or overcrowded) can have a serious impact on physical and mental health.
  • Health problems caused by poor-quality housing costs the NHS approximately £2.5 billion per year.

 

The causes of poor-quality housing

Houses vary in age, design and building materials, and each home comes with its own set of problems. One common issue is damp and mould, which makes homes unhealthy to live in. Typically, this is caused by:

  • Heating systems that are inefficient, ineffective, or costly to run
  • Poor ventilation
  • Inability to use ventilation e.g., open windows due to worries about safety, noise or poor air quality
  • Lack of understanding around how to most efficiently use ventilation e.g., ensuring extractor fans are turned on and doors closed to a steamy room until moisture has been removed.
  • Lack of proper damp-proofing
  • Poor home maintenance
  • Overcrowded living conditions.

Other causes of poor-quality housing >

  • Socioeconomic status
  • High cost of living
  • Overheating the home
  • Lack of appropriate clothes drying facilities
  • Lack of awareness and knowledge.

 


How we're making places healthier

Our Public Health teams have developed a ‘Healthy Homes Programme’ to improve living conditions, reduce health inequalities and promote better health across the county.

We’re focusing on two main areas:

  1. Improving housing quality, especially dealing with damp and mould
  2. Tackling the cost of living and fuel poverty.

 

To deliver healthier homes, we're working with:

  • Community Protection
  • Sustainability teams
  • Adult Care Services
  • Housing teams
  • Environmental health
  • NHS services
  • Housing associations
  • Other service providers, including the National Energy Foundation.

 


Support and advice

Contact your local district or borough council housing service for support with:

  • social housing
  • housing benefits
  • homelessness, or the threat of becoming homeless
  • some home improvement queries.

Find your local housing service

Find housing services on your district or borough council's website.

When a full postcode has been entered, addresses are available for selection using up and down arrows to review and enter to select.

See all districts and boroughs

 

Other services that can help

  • HertsHelp - speak to advisors for free, confidential advice on local services and support.
  • Citizens Advice Hertfordshire - offers a range of advice services, including information on housing conditions like damp and infestations. 
  • National Energy Foundation - get independent expert advice to improve your home’s energy efficiency, save money, and enhance comfort.
  • Shelter - information on what action to take if your rented accommodation, social housing or housing association has damp or mould.
  • GOV.UK - get tailored information on how to get something fixed by your landlord or letting agent, and what to do next if they’re not responding to your requests.

 

Rate this page

Happy face Neutral face Sad face