Issue 136: Winter 2025

Counting the costs

Health and housing have been inextricably linked since the birth of council housing in the late 19^th and early 20^th century and the connections between them are as close as ever.

This special issue of WHQ ranges far and wider across the links between health, housing and homelessness. Dr Laura Neilson kicks things off with a look at the impact of living in temporary accommodation on the lives, and deaths, of children. Michelle Morris, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, reflects on the impact of damp and mould on tenants. Joe Rees looks at the approach of Public Health Wales to advocating for healthier homes. Carole-Anne Davies looks at the contribution that improving housing quality, affordability and accessibility can make to health outcomes.

Elsewhere in our health and housing feature we look at everything from keeping fit to hoarding, health inequalities to Housing First and care for elderly home owners to challenging behaviour in independent living schemes.

January saw the launch of Tai ar y Cyd, the collaboration of social landlords that aims to deliver off-site manufactured affordable homes to the highest standards. With backing from Welsh Government and working closely with architects and manufacturers, the project has produced a standardised pattern book and design guide.

Meanwhile the Welsh housing sector is still digesting the implications of the High Court ruling in a test case brought by four housing associations over the provision of electrical condition reports. As Professor David Cowan explains, the ruling confirms that rent was not payable where reports were not issued to tenants but other key issues are still outstanding.

Elsewhere, Lauren Caley reports on the cost of Wales’s reliance on temporary accommodation while Wendy Dearden shares the findings of new research into why the development of new social homes. John Griffiths MS, chair of the Local Government and Housing Committee, argues that Wales can learn from the past and set up a national development corporation.

The fall-out from the Draft Budget in Cardiff and Autumn Budget at Westminster continues to resonate. Katie Dalton welcomes new funding for housing support but warns that work will be undermined without more help with increased employers’ National Insurance contributions. Cerys Clark says Welsh Government’s 20,000 social homes target is still at risk despite increased investment.

We also have two articles on refugee housing, with Gareth Lynn Montes welcoming an interim extension of the move on period and Nicola Evans and Joy Kent calling for housing to play its part in delivering a Nation of Sanctuary.

All that plus resident engagement in merger, private renting and Housing First, plus our regular updates, make for a packed first issue of the year. All the best for 2025

Jules Birch, editor, WHQ