The report explains the background to Sheffield’s Decent Homes Programme and describes how the national Housing Health and Safety Rating System was used to estimate the programme's health impact. It looks at the health impact in terms of:

The report discusses how improvements to heating and insulation, remodelling bathrooms and kitchens, and investment in doors and windows can reduce the risk to residents’ health.

Sheffield’s Decent Homes Programme is a partnership between Sheffield City Council and five building contractors aiming to provide excellent housing services to tenants and neighbourhoods. This health impact assessment aims to make recommendations for enhancing the positive impacts of the Decent Homes Programme on health.

The health impact of Sheffield’s Decent Home Programme was estimated following a five-stage process recommended by the World Health Organisation. This process involves:

The national Housing Health and Rating System was applied to the 52,000 homes owned by Sheffield City Council and managed by Sheffield Homes. The condition of the housing stock was rated for its impact on health, both before and after improvements generated by the Decent Homes programme to date and those planned for the future. The difference between the two estimates (pre- and post-intervention) is the assessment of health impact.

The report finds that the Sheffield Decent Homes Programme can make a major contribution to improving the health and quality of life of Sheffield residents. In particular it should reduce heart and respiratory disease, reduce the number of accidents in the home, and give greater security and mental well-being. Recommendations are made for maximising the health impact of the programme.

Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research
Geoff Green (Professor of Urban Policy), tel. +44 (0) 11 4225 3073

01/07/2006

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Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR), Sheffield Hallam University

research

Urban Policy > Housing > Housing quality

Housing improvement