13 December 2023 , 00:01
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More than eight million adults and millions of children face a “Dickensian” Christmas living in cold and damp homes.
Campaigners say they will be exposed to the health risks of fuel poverty thanks to a crisis of high energy bills and substandard housing. The NHS warns people with damp and mould in their homes are more likely to have respiratory problems, infections, allergies or asthma. It can also affect the immune system and raise risk of heart attacks or strokes.
Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “The Government needs to get a grip on the cold, damp homes crisis now facing the country, with people spending the festive period in Dickensian conditions and unable to stay warm. Without immediate action, the cost of this crisis will be felt by increased demand on the already overstretched NHS.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is being urged to take action on housing (PA)“Ultimately, a failure to protect people from living in cold, damp homes will cost lives.” A report from the Warm This Winter campaign says 16% of adults – some 8.3m people – live in cold, damp homes. More than three million of those have children.
And 1.7m are classed as vulnerable because they are aged over 75, have kids under six or have a pre-existing health condition or disability. The findings come as most people face a jump in energy bills from January 1.
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People in London are most likely to be living in cold, damp homes, followed by Yorkshire, the West Midlands and the North West. Four petitions with a combined 800,000 signatures have been handed to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling for more action on housing.
Public health expert Dr Isobel Braithwaite said: “These conditions are severely harming the health of the most vulnerable in society. This situation is unconscionable in 2023.”