Where you are:

Housing LIN > Resources > Topics > Housing > Home Improvement

Home improvement/Housing quality

The resources listed below provide information about the quality of the housing stock, such as the decent homes standard, tackling fuel poverty, property maintenance, insulation and improved heating. It also includes information relating to Home Improvement Agencies.

Lost opportunities: A decade of declining national investment in repairing our homes

This report, published by Centre for Ageing Better, outlines the decline in national investment in home improvement, the consequences and what we need to do next.

Putting ideas into action: Developing a local Good Home Hub

This report explores the steps that can be taken by any area to develop a Good Home Hub.

Home Improvement: A Triple Dividend - Part One: Boosting the British Economy

Published by the Centre for Ageing Better, supported by the Dunhill Medical Trust, this report reveals how a small investment in improving the safety, heating and accessibility of the nation’s poorest-quality homes could have substantial economic benefits.

Housing quality: The quality or condition of a home is one of the more direct ways in which housing can affect health

Analysis provided by The Health Foundation shows a decent home is one of the building blocks for good health.

Briefing: Overcrowding in England

Published by the National Housing Federation, this report explores the impact overcrowding has on a family’s physical and mental health, wellbeing, daily lives and relationships.

'To make it better to live, you know? - A Hoarding and Supported Housing study

The impact of hoarding behaviours and social networks on attitudes towards supported housing in older individuals

Good homes for all - A proposal to fix England's housing

This report reveals the findings from the Good Home Inquiry, supported by the Centre for Ageing Better, that was set up in 2020 to investigate the causes of the crisis of poor-quality housing in England and determine potential policy solutions.

The Good Home Dialogue - The homes we have and the homes we want

With over four million poor-quality homes in England, new research from BritainThinks highlights the main barriers, motivations and favoured policy solutions to how we improve the nation’s homes.

Housing policy and poor-quality homes

This report by CaCHE (Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence) for the Centre for Ageing Better's The Good Home Inquiry presents a series of recommendations on addressing housing quality in England and its impact on older people.

More Than Marginal Interest: Dementia in Local Housing Policies

A report by Foundations states that dementia needs should be positioned more central to the current framework of housing and health rather than in the margin and calls for action.

Better housing is crucial for our health and the COVID-19 recovery

This paper by The Health Foundation sets out the links between housing and health and explores the inequalities in housing across different groups and types of tenures. It then consider the impact of COVID-19 on housing so far, future risks and possible ways forward.

Re-mortgaging: Find out why homeowners choose to re-mortgage

This web-based report by NatWest provides key statistics and information about re-mortgaging.

English Housing Survey 2018-19: Accessibility of English homes

This MHCLG factsheet sets out the four criteria that determine what constitutes an accessible home. It also displays useful facts and figures displayed in a series of infographics that illustrate the state of accessibility and adaptability of residential properties in England and how they meet the criteria.

Decent Homes for Ageing Well

A new graphic briefing from Care & Repair England highlights the many reasons why action is urgently needed to improve the safety, warmth and quality of existing homes.

Home and dry - The need for a decent home in later life

The Centre for Ageing Better and Care and Repair England have published two report which provide analysis and commentary about housing conditions in England in the context of population ageing.

Non-decent homes and later life in England: Headline statistics

According to new research by the Centre for Ageing Better and Care & Repair England an estimated 10 million people across England will spend this Christmas in a home classed as ‘non-decent’.

Housing disrepair: Improving non-decent homes

A new guide from Care and Repair for local older people's forums and groups.

Cold Homes Toolkit

The CABx and Cornwall Council have produced this toolkit to help Local Authorities and Health Trusts to tackle fuel poverty.

Homes that help: A personal and professional perspective on home adaptations

This Centre for Ageing Better report uses primary research to offer recommendations on how to improve the approach and process around home adaptations.

Annual Fuel Poverty Statistics report 2015

This report analyses fuel poverty by the latest examining energy efficiency and dwelling characteristics while also examining the trends in household income and other characteristics relating to 2013,...

A Shock to the System - Electrical Safety in an Ageing Society

This report by Care & Repair Cymru was commissioned by Electrical Safety First. Findings Older people, whether it is due to the housing conditions they live in, the health conditions they may have...

Safe, warm, decent housing for older people - Why it matters

The Older People's Housing Champion's Network has produced its manifesto on housing in an ageing society and sent it to local older people's groups. It calls for: Future proofing housing for an ageing...

Housing, Care and Health Integration Toolkit

This new tool by Foundations, supported by the Housing LIN, helps HIAs, Handyperson services and any of the related housing support providers to build a compelling case for the inclusion of such services...

Living well in retirement

This publication from HACT Fit for Living Network and supported by the Housing LIN, sets out an investment and delivery framework to enable low income older home-owners to repair, improve and adapt their...

National Evaluation of the Handyperson Programme

This is the final report of an independent evaluation of the Department for Communities and Local Government's handyperson programme. Undertaken by the University of York, the evaluation reports on value...

Safe at Home: A preventive handyperson service in Devon

This Housing LIN case study no 54 showcases a successful handyperson scheme in Devon. It describes how the scheme was established and its subsequent evolution in the face of changes in the organisational...

Think Local, Act Personal and Housing - Making the Connection: Providing disabled facilities in the home

This new report by the South East Joint Improvement Partnership in January examines how Councils with Social Services Responsibilities and Local Housing Authorities in South East England can and do work...

Adapting for a lifetime - The key role of home improvement agencies in adaptations delivery

This new report from Foundations, the national body for Home Improvement Agencies (HIA) identifies examples of good practice and innovation within the HIA sector and their partnerships with local authorities,...

Energy efficiency and eradicating fuel poverty

Foundations has published this resource guide to provide home improvement agencies and commissioners with an update on energy efficiency and fuel poverty policy and practice. The resource guide provides...

Connecting with Health and Care

This report is published jointly by the Housing LIN and Foundations. In Autumn 2007 Foundations, the National Body for home improvement agencies, was commissioned by Communities and Local Government...

The Future Home Improvement Agency - Handyperson services report

Housing LIN Briefing No30 - This briefing provides an overview of the recent report published the Communities and Local Governments' (CLGs) which announced additional funding for handyperson service...

Rainy Days, Silver Linings

This Housing LIN Report looks at attitudes towards home equity release for care services and the products currently available on the market. It also looks at the potential for using home equity in this...

The Future Home Improvement Agency: Supporting choice and maintaining independence

An overview report on factors that will determine the future success of Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) produced as part of the Future HIA project. The role of HIAs in coordinating housing support and...

Small things matter - the key role of handyperson services (March 2006)

Published by Care and Repair England, March 2006 This report by Care & Repair England examines the current provision fo small repairs and minor adaptations services being provided by the main older...

Health and Winter Warmth - reducing health inequalities

Produced by the Regional Public Health Group in the South East, this factsheet describes the links between fuel poverty and ill health and outlines the evidence about what works in reducing fuel poverty....

The Kent Health & Affordable warmth strategy

A brief Housing LIN Case study No8 describing the strategy in Kent to reduce fuel poverty and improve health.