How investing in one-stop shops to fix UK's horror homes could pay for itself

A network of one-stop shops to carry out home improvements could fix up the UK’s horror homes, boost the NHS and the country’s climate and cost the government nothing.

That’s the case that Centre for Ageing Better and think tank Demos are making in a bid to convince Labour ministers to invest in Good Home Hubs.

The hubs would provide support on all aspects of home improvement including energy efficiency and retrofit upgrades, accessibility changes and minor adaptations down to simple handyperson repairs.

Some UK local authorities have already opened hubs and rolling them out nationwide could cost each council an estimated £1.6m. But research from the groups claimed assisting people with home improvements could pay for itself and actually deliver an annual net gain to the government of £16m.

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“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,” said Dr Carole Easton OBE, chief executive at the Centre for Ageing Better.

“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.”

The UK has the oldest and draughtiest housing stock in Europe with an estimated 29 million homes needing to be retrofitted by 2050, according to the UK Green Building Council.

Adapting homes for the changing climate is important to help the UK reach its net-zero goals but it’s also vital in the present day to fix damp and mould and other health hazards that put even more strain on the NHS.

Making homes more accessible for people with disabilities or mobility needs is also crucial as the UK population ages.

A consortium of experts led by the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University assessed existing home improvement services across the country.

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They found that the estimated cost saving to the NHS from an early hospital discharge due to home improvement services is £2,680 per discharge. That would cut the number of bed days by 40% from 15 to nine days on average.

Preventing falls in the home could save the NHS £7,050 per fall and wider society £29,140 for the average cost of £1,600 for home adaptations, the experts said.

Meanwhile, addressing excess cold in homes that are fuel poor could deliver returns on investment of £10.12 in societal benefits for every £1 spent.

Centre for Ageing Better said two in five UK households – equivalent to 11.6 million households – are prioritising home improvements but are struggling to carry them out.

A further one in eight households – around 3.5 million – with a high need are living with a daily inconvenience because they cannot improve their home.

Labour has made promises to improve the standards of homes as well as targeting building 1.5 million homes while in power.

The government’s private rent reforms will introduce a decent homes standard to the sector and bring Awaab’s Law into force too after it is introduced to fix hazards in social housing.

Ministers have also pledged £13.2bn to be spent on its Warm Homes Plan with 300,000 homes will benefit from upgrades in 2025.

Good Home Hubs could be a cost-effective solution too, Dan Goss, senior researcher at Demos, said.

The think tank’s new analysis suggests that, if delivered across the UK, Good Home Hubs would support 390,000 to 550,000 households each year to fix their homes.

Demos’ research insists the hubs could help tackle fuel poverty and support vulnerable groups as well as boosting the economy by creating jobs and developing a pipeline of skilled workers.

“The government’s housebuilding plans are promising, but overlook the millions of dangerous, cold, and inadequate homes currently in Britain. If we want good homes for all, we also need to fix what we’ve got,” said Goss.

“While the elephant in the room is often money, that’s not the case here. Good Home Hubs would empower residents to fix problems in their home, and the model would pay for itself. The hubs would cut costs for councils while expanding the market for home improvements, unlocking extra revenue.

“The reward for residents, the public purse and the country is clear. What’s needed now is action.”

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