Quality of Life Evidence Review

There is a housing crisis in the UK, the many different aspects of which affect people’s health and wellbeing in profound ways. Housing insecurity is on the rise. Wages are failing to keep up with soaring house prices and rents, and less affordability in housing is compounded by the cost of living crisis.

Evidence shows that there are clear social, environmental and financial benefits to taking an approach to our housing system that focuses on people’s health and wellbeing. However, the UK is facing multiple challenges:

• Many new homes are of poor quality and are being built in the wrong place. Such developments are unsustainable and exacerbate tensions within local communities.

• There is a chronic and long-standing need for more social housing.

• Health inequalities have widened, with those living in areas of high deprivation experiencing worse health outcomes and lower life expectancies compared to those living in more affluent areas.

• The climate emergency has shone a harsh light on our ageing housing stock and on the need to ensure that every home and neighbourhood is created and cared for with people and the planet in mind.

• COVID-19 has underscored just how important our homes and local communities are, demonstrating how much place matters to our health, wellbeing and ability to live a good life.

Over the coming weeks QOLF is going to share some of the recommendations to come out of our most recent Evidence Review, updating the outlook for life in the UK post-COVID. The Foundation will publish updates and points for improvement. We’ll be using this to reinforce our framework and carry out research with local authorities, developers, housing associations and community groups across the country.

To get ahead of the curve, download and read the report here. We encourage you to use the stats and figures, and to look at the recommendations made under each theme and to share this information when it resonates with you.

Which findings have got you thinking?