Memorandum by the Chartered Institute
of Environmental Health (CIEH)
The CIEH[1]
is a professional and educational awarding body with some 10,500
members working both in the public and private sector, many of
whom are at the forefront of tackling poor health and housing
conditions.
According to a recent report[2]
from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
there are 3.2 million vulnerable households living in the private
sector in 2005 of which 1.1 million live in non decent homes.
[3]The
existing Government target will still leave over 800,000 vulnerable
households in non decent homes in the private sector by 2020.
In contrast the target is for all social housing to be made decent
by 2010. Recent research carried out on a Sheffield Decent Homes
health impact assessment, "Decent Homes: Better Health",[4]
has produced evidence that demonstrates the health benefits of
making homes drier and warmer. A conclusion made from this is
that children will be the main beneficiaries with a reduction
of the likely incidences of Asthma.
Since April 2006, the HHSRS provides a tool
for local authorities to deal with conditions that include respiratory
and allergic attacks. The system has used available evidence to
support the approach of hazard assessment and, in this instance,
it is particularly relevant for the hazards of excess cold, damp
and mould and domestic hygiene, pests and refuse. Local authorities
have enforcement powers to improve conditions in the private sector
but whilst they use those powers when and where necessary in the
private rented sector they are reluctant, for obvious reasons,
to use them on owner-occupiers. Enforcement action alone cannot
be expected to improve poor housing conditions and more incentive
is required to encourage all home owners to repair and maintain
their homes, particularly owner-occupiers. The Home Information
Pack, being introduced by DCLG, provides an opportunity to improve
matters but the inclusion of a house condition report is voluntary
so there is still insufficient emphasis on the condition of homes
compared with their value.
The CIEH has formed a Commission on Housing
Renewal and Public Health[5].
The Commission's interim report has found that the rate of replacement
of very poorest areas of housing has fallen to very low levels.
It is inevitable that in these poorest areas of housing there
is an increased risk of exposure to allergic conditions yet the
assessment of these areas lacks any specific reference to health.
The Commission recommends, amongst other things, that the DCLG
guidance on Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment[6]
is revised to include a health impact assessment of the different
options for action.
Internationally, particularly in Europe, a great
deal of work has been done on air quality and its harmful effects.
In particular, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Europe has
developed a number of projects in the last few years. One such
project has been to develop indoor air quality guidelines. Another
is the children's environment and health action plan for Europe
(CEHAPE) which has produced a table of child specific actions
for member states including indoor and outdoor exposure to allergens.
They also have been developing environmental health information
systems (ENHIS) which includes information on the health impacts
of poor indoor air quality and suggestions for policies in relation
to this.
In America, a study[7]has
confirmed that the presence of rat and mouse allergens in the
home as being associated with asthma attacks. This is also a concern
bearing in mind the reported increase in the rodent population
in the UK in recent years. A similar study[8]
has demonstrated the potential harmful effects associated with
cockroach allergens.
1 Fuller information on CIEH can be found on the website
http://cieh.org/ Back
2
English House Condition Survey-2005 Headline Report, January 2007. Back
3
Decent home: is one that meets the following four criteria:
(a) It meets the current statutory
minimum standard for housing (fitness standard for the reporting
period of this survey)§.
(b) It is in a reasonable state of
repair (related to the age and condition of a range of building
components including walls, roofs, windows, doors, chimneys, electrics
and heating systems).
(c) It has reasonably modern facilities
and services (related to the age, size and layout/location of
the kitchen, bathroom and WC and any common areas for blocks of
flats, and to noise insulation).
(d) It provides a reasonable degree
of thermal comfort (related to insulation and heating efficiency).
§ From April 2006 the fitness
standard was replaced by the Housing Health and Safety Rating
System (HHSRS).] The detailed definition for each of these criteria
is included in A Decent Home: Definition and guidance for implementation,
Communities and Local Government, June 2006. Back
4
Decent Homes: Better Health, Sheffield Hallam University, July
2006. Back
5
Fuller information on CIEH can be found on the
websitehttp://cieh.org/library/Knowledge/Housing/HOUSINGpercent20COMMISSION.pdf Back
6
ODPM 2004, Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment: Guidance Manual,
London. Back
7
Cohn R D et al (2004). National prevalence and exposure risk for
mouse allergen in US households. Journal of Allergy and Clinical
Immunology, 113:1167-1171. Back
8
Cohn R D, et al (2006) National prevalence and exposure risk for
cockroach allergen in US households, Environmental Health Perspectives
114(4): 522-6. Back
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