December 12th, 2017
There is considerable evidence that housing conditions do affect health status. Nevertheless, we are still left with the question, “what is healthy housing?” This document gives a preliminary overview of the work of a consortium of research institutions established by WHO within the area of housing and health.A short synthesis of the currently accepted evidence published on the theme of housing and health is presented. The first evidence gained from a pan-European survey on housing and health is also summarized. This working paper aims to provide scientific evidence useful for setting priorities at local and national levels, identifying risk groups and improving building regulations and housing controls. It is intended to support the proposals included in the Budapest ministerial declaration regarding the potential ways forward for ministers of health and ministers of environment.