Copyright mirror
Over a quarter of adults are residing in homes plagued by damp, mould or cold, reveals a report. The survey, which involved 3,982 adults, discovered that those in the lowest income households are nearly twice as likely to live in homes with damp and mould compared to those in the highest income households, with figures standing at 21% versus 12%. They're also approximately four times more likely to inhabit a cold home. The research, commissioned by Health Equals , indicates that a fifth of renters grapple with issues such as damp or mould - a figure that rises to 23% for those in social housing. Alarmingly, 47% of adults living under these conditions have children sharing the same environment. In an effort to draw attention to this issue, the campaign group staged a peculiar spectacle for Christmas shoppers, displaying hazmat onesies as if they were up for sale. Vinyl stickers on the window underscored the number of UK homes infested with potentially lethal mould or damp, presenting the Hazmat loungewear suits as a ludicrous solution to a real problem millions of Brits confront in their own homes today. However, the eye-catching stunt carries a serious message. TV property guru Martin Roberts, who collaborated with the campaign group for the event, stated: "After more than two decades visiting thousands of homes across the UK, I've seen first-hand how damp, cold and mould can destroy both a property and the wellbeing of the people living in it. "It's not just unsightly, it's in the very fabric of people's properties as well as, more importantly, their health. "Good housing is the foundation for good health. You can't expect people to thrive if the very place they're meant to feel safe is actually making them sick. "That's why I'm proud to support this campaign; because everyone deserves to live in a warm, dry, safe and healthy home." Housing activist Kwajo Tweneboa also backs the campaign, stating: "Damp, mould and disrepair are symptoms of a much deeper inequality in this country. "I've spent years meeting families who are trying to raise their children in homes that would fail even the most basic standards - properties that landlords or councils should have fixed long ago. "That's why this campaign is so important. It doesn't just highlight the problem; it's demanding real change. "Stronger laws to make every landlord take responsibility, proper funding to repair homes, and a cross-government plan to make sure no one's health is determined by their postcode or income." The study also revealed that 37% of people live with someone who has an underlying health condition, such as asthma or heart failure, which could be exacerbated by poor living conditions. Around half (53%) believe private landlords should maintain privately rented properties, but a whopping 76% agree the government needs to step in with a plan to tackle health inequalities. Dr Andy Whittamore, a practising GP and Clinical Lead at Asthma + Lung UK, member of Health Equals, said: "No one should have to live in a home that harms their health, yet as this new research shows, that is the reality for millions of people in the UK. "Living in damp or mouldy housing puts people living with chronic lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at risk of life-threatening flare-ups and means they are more likely to need emergency care. "Long-term exposure to mould can also cause lung conditions like asthma in previously healthy individuals. "It's high time for urgent government action to protect the health of the most vulnerable people in our society, ensuring everyone can stay warm and well at home."
