Between 2007-2009 Chelmsford had the second highest level of excess winter deaths in Essex behind Brentwood.
Background
The association between housing conditions and physical/mental ill health is well established. People living in cold, damp and mouldy housing conditions as a result of poor insulation, heating and ventilation systems are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, arthritis, rheumatism and more minor illnesses such as colds and flu. The annual cost to the NHS of treating winter-related disease due to cold private housing is over £850 million.
In 2013 the private sector housing stock condition for Chelmsford was estimated to have 15% of the stock (9,845 homes) presenting category 1 health and safety hazards under the Housing Health & Safety Rating System; 4,849 (8% of private homes) were due to poor thermal insulation and/or heating provision (the hazard of Excess Cold).
Between 2007-2009 Chelmsford had the second highest level of excess winter deaths in Essex behind Brentwood.
Currently, nearly 9,000 (14%) of Chelmsford homes are in bands F or G. In 2018 new legislation means it will be illegal to rent out residential/business premises that do not reach a minimum EPC rating of ‘E'.
For these reasons Chelmsford City Council's Public Health Strategy includes the reduction of fuel poverty and excess winter deaths, and the increase in supply of decent, genuinely affordable homes for purchase and for rent. The Corporate plan also includes working with home owners and landlords to ensure existing homes in the city are of a good standard and are warm and safe to live in.
Working with landlords - private landlords event
With increasing households in fuel poverty and fuel prices set to continue to rise, Chelmsford City Council was keen to help facilitate improvements to properties at risk of being cold and damp. The Council organised an event in December 2013 with the aim to raise the awareness of private landlords, Letting Agents, Housing Associations and Village Agents, among others, on the risks of cold and damp homes and the solutions available.
The free event included the following presentations:
- Health risks associated with cold, damp and mould- Chris Singleton, Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group
- Assessing cold and damp. Suitable solutions and prevention ranging from tenant advice to landlord improvements. The business case for why landlords should invest in energy efficiencies (inc. tax break) - Peter Chisnall, Climate Energy
- Making solutions count across Chelmsford. The possibility of referral networks, the responsibility of landlords and future changes in legislation for rented properties- Torben Wood, Chelmsford City Council)
Information leaflets were handed out to attendees; these gave advice on how to make properties healthier and more efficient to live in, through changing the habits of residents and/or making building improvements.
Along with this the Energy Saving Trust and Eastern Landlords Association attended with promotional stands and advice.
Outcome and impact
More than 100 people attended the seminar at Chelmsford's Civic Centre.
The initial feedback on the event was extremely positive. The advice on property management, grant funding, health consequences was said to be invaluable. Chelmsford City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Duncan Lumley, said: "I am pleased that so many people accepted our invitation and attended this event to learn more about this serious issue. We have received positive feedback from several attendees who feel they now have the knowledge to deal with it them, or at least know who they can contact here at the Council for advice."
Local Village Agents have contacted the Council about problem properties, for those owners unable to pay for improvements the Housing Standards Team has been able to offer the Healthy Homes Loan (an interest free loan from the Council for repair works to a property to remedy health and safety hazards).
Letting agents have also been in contact with the Council about challenging dwellings and the Housing Standards Team has been able to give advice and recommendations on how the issues should be rectified.
The team continues to receive an abundance of enquiries from landlords and tenants; they are then directed to the Council's webpage; detailing good proactive guidance and advice (see below). For those landlords and tenants unable to find solutions the Council offers to provide inspections, assessments and guidance.
This event was successful in encouraging people to look at the properties they own and visit. It has enabled attendees to have the basic skills to be able to determine if these properties are healthy places for residents to live. It has also allowed attendees to recognize the benefits of making efficiency improvements to in order to make their properties more affordable and therefore attractive to tenants.
Other councils have approached Chelmsford City Council for advice on replicating the event in their own boroughs.
Further information: