Damp houses pose a threat to health

According to the State of Ageing 2025 report, in one in every four homes in England, the physical health and mental wellbeing of inhabitants is put at risk by damp, and homes with mould outnumber those with large-screen TVs.

The report, from Caring for Ageing Better, also reveals that 7.5 million people are living in 3.5 million unsafe, non-decent homes. Almost one in three (31%) of those living in a non-decent home are aged 55 or over, and older homeowners in the East Midlands were twice as likely (21%) to live in a non-decent home than those in London (10%).

Millie Brown, deputy director for homes at the Centre for Ageing Better, which works to tackle inequalities in ageing, said: “Our report highlights the enormous scale of the poor-quality housing crisis in this country, which requires urgent action.

“While the government has rightly identified the need to significantly increase the supply of new homes to help tackle the crisis, the reality is four in five homes that will exist in 2050 have already been built. We need to ensure that the support is available to ensure that these homes remain habitable for decades to come.

“One way to do this is implementing one-stop shops for home improvement services, known as Good Home Hubs. We must act now to improve the decency of our homes, so that everyone can live in a home where they thrive, not just survive.”

• ageing-better.org.uk/homes-state-ageing-2025