jingle If you didn't suffer ill health when living in unfit accommodation when you were a child then I should think you were one of the lucky ones.
In August 2014 the Guardian reported that the Building Research Establishment estimated avoidable disease and injuries caused by poor housing costs the NHS at least £600m a year.
Poor housing has a long-term impact on physical and mental health and disproportionately affect older people living isolated lives, the young, those without a support network and adults with disabilities.
A cold home increases the risks of cardiovascular, respiratory and rheumatoid diseases as well as the worsening mental health. In 2009-10, there were an estimated 25,400 excess winter deaths, over 21% are attributable to the coldest quarter of homes.
Damp and mould have been linked to respiratory problems, allergies and asthma. Research found people with asthma were twice as likely to live in homes with damp as those without.
