Damp homes provide the ideal environment for dust and other mites which can impact respiratory illnesses, whilst mould produces allergens and toxins which can be harmful to residents. Condensation, damp and mould are closely linked to fuel poverty and are often caused by under heating, poor insulation, inadequate ventilation and overcrowding.
The 'Breathe Easy' project will see HEET work with NHS health teams and agencies such as Citizens Advice and Age UK, as well as private landlords, to identify fuel poor households whose respiratory health is affected by these living conditions. Over the next two years, the funding from the Cadent Foundation will be used to treat mould growth, provide tailored energy advice and install demand-controlled ventilation systems as part of a package of heating and insulation measures for these households.
According to the Kings Fund (Housing & Health, 2018) health hazards relating to poor quality housing costs the NHS £2billion each year. Eradicating condensation and mould and improving energy efficiency in the homes of those with respiratory conditions, will improve the quality of life of residents by providing a safe home environment. The project will also help reduce health inequalities and demands on the NHS, improve incomes and reduce fuel poverty, whilst also lowering carbon emissions and the impact of climate change.
HEET Co-ordinator, Tom Ruxton, said: People need warm, dry homes in order to be healthy and productive citizens. It was widely recognised that a large proportion of housing in the UK is substandard and there is significant investment in making homes more energy efficient. However, a lot of this funding focuses on single measures instead of taking a whole house approach. Making homes more air-tight helps lower carbon emissions and household fuel bills but can make problems of condensation, damp and mould worse.
Homes that are insulated, well-ventilated and efficient to heat remain warm and dry and provide a safe and healthy environment for vulnerable residents. If households are additionally provided with good quality energy advice that is appropriate to their circumstances, their fuel bills can be reduced and condensation managed. Housing related ill-health, unlike many social issues, is solvable with the correct technical interventions.
The funding from the Cadent Foundation will allow us to expand the multi-measure package of home improvements we can offer to specifically target problems caused by mould and damp. It will also support the training of frontline staff in identifying residents suffering from cold and damp housing related ill health. It’s hoped the project will support more than 600 fuel poor households over the next two years, resulting in energy cost savings of £250,000 and lifetime carbon savings of 3000 tonnes through energy efficiency improvements.
Julia Dwyer, Director of the Cadent Foundation, said: Addressing the root causes and impact of fuel poverty is one of the core objectives of the Cadent Foundation and we are delighted to support HEET in their mission to make the homes of local people safe and healthy.
1 in 10 households across the country cannot afford to live in a warm, dry home and there is a clear correlation between poor quality housing, fuel poverty and ill health. The Breathe Easy project offers practical solutions which will have long term benefits both to the individuals and health services in the region.
HEET is a not-for-profit organisation working in the London boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Enfield. Its mission is to make the homes of local people safe and healthy, with affordable fuel bills and low carbon emissions. For more information on the services offered, visit www.theheetproject.org.uk
