On Fuel Poverty Day, 27th November, we’re reminded of the adverse impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on people’s health and well being and the concomitant financial impacts on local health and social care budgets.

Fuel Poverty Awareness Day was originally started by the charity National Energy Action (NEA) and now includes various events across the country over the following week. The charity points out that this year 6 million households will be in fuel poverty “meaning household budgets have been stretched and many are struggling in cold, unsafe and unhealthy homes”. NEA also adds that these households now owe over £3.7 billion to their energy suppliers and either have to “accrue debt or live in homes that will negatively impact their physical and mental health”.

Whilst it is now almost a cliche that UK homes have amongst the worst energy efficiency ratings in Europe, the adverse outcomes from this status when fuel poverty figures are included in the mix are no cliche. One of those adverse outcomes is the prevalence of damp and mould in homes, whether owner-occupied, social rented or privately rented. Indeed, of these three tenures, the private rented sector exhibits the worst quality standards of all with the 2021 English Housing Survey highlighting that 23% of PRS homes failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard - 10% higher than owner-occupied homes and 13% higher than homes in the social sector.

Meanwhile, it has been estimated (by the Building Research Establishment) that the financial impact on the health service of treating patients experiencing the impacts of damp and mould in their homes comes to around £1.4 billion annually with associated societal costs (e.g. ongoing healthcare) increasing that figure to over £15 billion.

With upcoming legislation set to apply the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector and property licensing set to remain part of the sector’s regulatory framework this creates an opportunity for local authorities to improve health outcomes for residents in the PRS.

The Role of Inspections in Tackling Poor Housing Conditions

Inspections carried out under selective licensing schemes, for example, allow local authorities to proactively inspect PRS homes in their areas and deal with the prevalent issue of damp and mould and other substandard conditions often linked to fuel poverty. Councils can engage with landlords or enforce against those who don’t engage

Beyond addressing immediate housing issues, these inspections also create opportunities for local authorities to gather data and to link eligible properties with grant funding for energy efficiency upgrades within the PRS This targeted approach not only helps reduce energy bills for tenants but also contributes to lowering carbon emissions. Over the course of the licensing scheme, by improving housing quality, councils can alleviate the financial strain of both preventable physical and mental health conditions linked to poor housing, such as respiratory illnesses and mental health issues.

In conclusion, property licensing schemes aren’t a silver bullet for tackling fuel poverty, but by identifying and addressing issues like damp, mould, and energy inefficiency through inspections, they support councils in improving housing quality, protecting health, and easing pressure on local services.