New analysis from CIH shows that reaching EPC Band C in social housing would save the NHS over £85m per year from 2030.
CIH is calling on the Government to invest a minimum of £5bn in retrofitting social housing at the forthcoming Spending Review to help realise these savings.
Each year, cold-related illnesses place extreme pressure on NHS services, especially in the winter. The energy efficiency of a home is a major contributing factor to the development in exacerbation of these illnesses, especially respiratory and cardiovascular problems [1].
Social housing providers have greatly improved the energy efficiency of their homes in the last 15 years, with the number of homes at EPC Band C or better rising from 24% in 2010 to 73% in 2023 [2]. However, with wider financial pressures relating to building safety remediation, repairs and maintenance, and the need to build new social homes, CIH says that the Government must boost the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund and Warm Homes: Local Grant to help the sector meet its 2030 targets.
Commenting on the analysis, CIH Director of Policy, Communications, and External Affairs, Rachael Williamson, said: “A warm, comfortable home is fundamental for our health and wellbeing. The social housing sector has invested huge amounts in energy efficiency in the last few years, but it is becoming increasingly clear that some providers will struggle to meet their 2030 targets without further government support.
“These new figures show that if the Government is serious about improving living standards and creating an NHS fit for the future, investing in making homes warmer needs to be high on the priority list at the forthcoming Spending Review.
“CIH has welcomed the investment the Government has already made in its Warm Homes capital schemes. However, with this funding only confirmed until 2028, boosting both programmes to take the total investment in social housing retrofit to at least £5bn between now and the end of the decade is the minimum that is required.
“Every home that we make warmer between now and 2030 reduces the risk of cold-related illnesses developing or getting worse, with a huge annual saving to the healthcare system if the sector is supported to reach EPC Band C by 2030.”
References
[1] Institute of Health Equity (2022) Fuel Poverty, Cold Homes and Health Inequalities in the UK.
[2] CIH analysis of the English Housing Survey, multiple years.
