New research commissioned by Health Equals has suggested that an estimated 6 million families in the UK are living with issues like damp, cold, and mould in their homes*. Alarmingly, an estimated 3 million children are affected nationwide.
Joined by TV property expert, Martin Roberts, and housing activist Kwajo Tweneboa, Health Equals staged a striking public stunt in central London. As major high street stores launch their Christmas window displays, the public were greeted by a family in a mould-ridden
shop window, wearing hazmat-style loungewear with heavy-duty respirators.
The scene uses the suits as an absurd solution to the very real problem millions of Brits face in their own homes, while also highlighting the deep inequalities that mean some people are much less likely to have a healthy home than others.
Health Equals’ message is clear – lives are being cut short in the UK by up to 16 years, fuelled by unequal access to the building blocks of good health: things like the air we breathe, the money in our pockets, the work we do, and the homes we live in.
The stunt follows Awaab’s law** coming into force for English social housing tenants and the Renters’ Rights Act*** receiving royal assent for English private rental tenants. However, campaigners warn that these changes won’t take affect for another decade
under current plans.
Research from a nationally representative survey of 3,982 people in October 2025 commissioned by Health Equals, highlights a growing public concern about the physical impact of poor housing conditions. 91% of the population worry about the effects of damp,
cold, and mould on health****, with 37% living with people who have underlying health conditions that may increase their vulnerability.
Only a quarter (26%) of respondents believe tenants or residents are responsible for tackling issues such as damp, cold, and mould. By contrast, over half (53%) think private landlords should maintain rented properties, and 48% say local councils and housing
associations have a duty to manage these problems.
Three quarters (76%) of people in the UK agree that the government should implement a plan to prevent health inequalities*****.
TV property expert, Martin Roberts, said:
“After more than two decades visiting thousands of homes across the UK, I’ve seen first-hand how damp, cold and mould can destroy both a property and the wellbeing of the people living in it. It’s not just unsightly, it’s in the very fabric of people’s properties
as well as, more importantly, their health.
“Too often I’ve walked into houses where families are forced to live in conditions that no one should accept – children sleeping in damp bedrooms, condensation dripping down walls, the smell of mould in the air. And sadly, these are not isolated cases; they’re
alarmingly common.
“Good housing is the foundation for good health. You can’t expect people to thrive if the very place they’re meant to feel safe is actually making them sick. That’s why I’m proud to support the Health Equals campaign; because everyone deserves to live in a
warm, dry, safe and healthy home.”
Housing campaigner, Kwajo Tweneboa, said:
“Damp, mould and disrepair are symptoms of a much deeper inequality in this country. I’ve spent years meeting families who are trying to raise their children in homes that would fail even the most basic standards – properties that landlords or councils should
have fixed long ago.
“The truth is, we all know what’s causing this: years of neglect, underinvestment, and a lack of accountability. The people most affected are those with the least power to change it: low-income families, single parents, older people, and those in social housing.
They’re paying the price for a broken system that has allowed poor-quality housing to become normalised.
“That’s why the Health Equals campaign is so important. It doesn’t just highlight the problem; it’s demanding real change. Stronger laws to make every landlord take responsibility, proper funding to repair homes, and a cross-government plan to make sure no
one’s health is determined by their postcode or income.”
Dr Andy Whittamore, a practising GP and Clinical Lead at Asthma + Lung UK, member of Health Equals, said:
“No one should have to live in a home that harms their health, yet as this new research shows, that is the reality for millions of people in the UK.
“Living in damp or mouldy housing puts people living with chronic lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at risk of life-threatening flare-ups and means they are more likely to need emergency care. Long-term exposure to
mould can also cause lung conditions like asthma in previously healthy individuals.
“It’s high time for urgent government action to protect the health of the most vulnerable people in our society, ensuring everyone can stay warm and well at home.”
