Safe, Secure and Healthy Homes

Understanding how housing quality shapes health, safety, and wellbeing.

About this theme

The condition of people’s homes has a profound impact on physical health, mental wellbeing, and safety. Issues such as damp, mould, poor ventilation, overcrowding, and fuel poverty are closely linked to respiratory illness, stress, and wider health inequalities.

Through this theme, the Healthy Housing Initiative investigates the relationship between housing quality and health outcomes. Our work identifies the causes of unhealthy housing, evaluates interventions, and generates evidence to support safer, healthier homes for individuals, families, and communities.

Our Work

We work with housing providers, local authorities, public health teams, and community organisations to understand how housing conditions affect health and wellbeing in practice.

Our research focuses on:

1) identifying drivers of poor housing conditions
2) evaluating interventions and enforcement approaches
3) understanding resident experiences of unhealthy housing
4) assessing socio-economic and health impacts
5) supporting evidence-based improvements to housing quality

Our work helps translate research into action to improve living conditions and reduce harm.

Damp, Mould & Indoor Air Quality

Examining the causes and health impacts of damp and mould, ventilation failures, and poor indoor air quality.

Fuel Poverty & Thermal Comfort

Understanding how cold homes and energy insecurity affect physical and mental health, and how targeted interventions can improve outcomes.

Housing Safety & Risk

Exploring risks within the home environment, including fire safety, overcrowding, and structural hazards.

Health Inequalities & Vulnerable Households

Investigating how poor housing disproportionately affects low-income households, children, older people, and those with long-term health conditions.

Evidence for Policy & Practice

Providing robust evidence to inform regulation, enforcement, and investment in healthier housing.

Our Projects

Housing solutions

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Publications & Reports

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Work With Us

We collaborate with partners across housing, health, regulation, and public policy to:

  • assess housing conditions and health risks
  • evaluate interventions and enforcement strategies
  • support healthy homes programmes
  • inform policy and regulatory reform
  • improve outcomes for residents and communities

To discuss collaborations on this theme, contact:
healthy-housing@hud.ac.uk