Unequal access, unsafe homes: The home improvement gap for racially minoritised communities

This report, commissioned by the Centre for Ageing Better and delivered by the Race Equality Foundation, explores the specific housing and home improvement needs and barriers experienced by racially minoritised communities in England.

It sets out clear recommendations for building anti-racist, inclusive Good Home Hubs (opens new window) that enable everyone to live well.

We are facing a later life housing crisis (opens new window). Over 2.3 million people aged 55 and over live in homes that are cold, damp, or unsafe. Within this, evidence shows that racially minoritised communities (opens new window) are disproportionately affected. They are more likely to live in insecure, poor-quality housing, with almost two in five (38%) Black, Asian and minority ethnic households experiencing one or more housing problems, compared with one in four (25%) White households.

The objectives of this research were to:

• Address the critical evidence gap on the housing and home improvement needs of older people from racially minoritised communities in England.
• Draw on the insights and expertise of a wide range of stakeholders, including older people with lived experience of poor-quality housing, and representatives from voluntary, community, faith, statutory, and service design sectors.
• Develop practical recommendations to ensure that research, policy, and services are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of racially minoritised communities.

The findings illustrate why urgent, coordinated action is needed from national and local policymakers, commissioners, service providers, and practitioners. Without decisive change, too many people will continue to live in homes (opens new window) that are cold, damp, and unsafe - with deep and lasting impacts on health, wellbeing, and inequality.