Network of one-stop shops for home improvement could address poor-quality homes

Creating a network of one-stop shops for home improvement across England would effectively cost the government nothing while delivering substantial benefits towards Labour’s growth and health missions, according to new analysis from the Centre for Ageing Better, cross-party think tank Demos and the University of Stirling. 

A network of Good Home Hubs assisting people with home improvements could pay for itself and actually deliver an annual net gain to the government of £16 million, according to the research.
 
Healthy ageing and housing experts from the University of Stirling contributed to the report, which also highlights the stark need for comprehensive home improvement hubs with two in five UK households (11.6 million households) prioritising home improvements but facing barriers to delivering them. This includes one in eight UK households (3.5 million households) with a high need, enduring a daily inconvenience because of improvements not carried out on their homes. 
 
A national network of Good Home Hubs across England would create local one-stop shops that provide support on all aspects of home improvement including energy efficiency and retrofit upgrades, accessibility changes, minor adaptations and handyperson repairs. 

Although many local authorities do offer this service already, Centre for Ageing Better research found the range of services on offer varies significantly and leaves residents at the mercy of a postcode lottery.  

The new analysis also details how a comprehensive home improvement service across the country would:

• Help health services by reducing hospital admissions and delayed discharges
• Raise health outcomes
• Help tackle fuel poverty
• Support vulnerable populations
• Boost the economy by creating jobs and supporting local businesses
• Develop a pipeline of skilled workers
• Lower household carbon emissions and extend the lifespan of homes

The Centre for Ageing Better is calling on the UK government to develop a national strategy to fix cold and dangerous homes which sets out detailed plans to improve poor-quality homes across all tenures and brings together work on housing currently divided between different government departments, such as health and social care and net zero. 

The Centre’s ‘Better homes, better lives: The role of home improvement services in boosting the nation’s health and wellbeing’ report, assessed existing home improvement services across England.
 
The charity wants the government to back up the strategy with sufficient, long-term funding and help ensure home improvement support can be delivered at a local level through Good Home Hubs.   

Dr Carole Easton OBE, Chief Executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “The quality of our homes is such a significant factor in the quality of our later life. It is a national scandal that millions of people, including a disproportionately high number of older people, are becoming sick because of their damp, cold, hazardous homes and thousands are dying. Much of this could be resolved with adequately funded, comprehensive support for people to maintain, repair and adapt their homes across the country. 
 
“Creating a network of home improvement support would transform millions of lives while also delivering substantial national and societal benefits including improved public health, reduced strain on health and social care services, economic growth, and significant progress on climate goals.   

“We need action from local and national policymakers to prioritise poor quality housing as the public health crisis it is and deliver the right solutions to ensure that everyone has a home worthy of the name that is safe, secure, warm and comfortable.” 

Vikki McCall, Professor of Social Policy at the University of Stirling, said: “Home improvements are essential to enable people to live safely in their homes for longer, and changes must have people’s needs at their heart. That’s why it’s fantastic to have this comprehensive evaluation.”