Copyright dailystar
More than a quarter of British adults are residing in properties plagued by damp, mould or freezing conditions, a damning new report has revealed. The study of 3,982 adults discovered that those from the poorest households face nearly double the likelihood of enduring damp and mouldy living conditions compared to the wealthiest families, with figures standing at 21% versus 12%. These same low-income residents are also roughly four times more prone to shivering in cold homes. The research, commissioned by Health Equals, exposes how one in five tenants battle problems such as damp or mould - a figure that jumps to 23% for those housed in social accommodation. Shockingly, 47% of adults enduring these appalling conditions share their homes with children. To spotlight this crisis, the campaign organisation stunned Christmas shoppers with a peculiar display featuring hazmat onesies apparently up for grabs. Window stickers drew attention to the staggering number of British homes infested with deadly mould or damp, whilst the bizarre hazmat leisurewear presented a ludicrous fix to the genuine crisis affecting millions of Britons in their own properties. Television property guru Martin Roberts, who joined forces with the campaign group for this initiative, declared: "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." The initiative also has the backing of housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa, who declared: "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% share homes with people suffering from underlying health conditions, such as asthma or heart failure, which could deteriorate further. Roughly half (53%) believe private landlords bear responsibility for maintaining rental properties, whilst 76% support government intervention to tackle health inequalities. Dr Andy Whittamore, a practising GP and Clinical Lead at Asthma + Lung UK, part of Health Equals, stated: "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."
