Living in a cold home where temperatures are below 18°C is harmful to health and poses serious health risks, according to a new report for Public Health Wales.
Prolonged exposure to low temperatures, particularly for people who are older or who have health conditions or disabilities, can lead to poor physical and mental health and, in severe cases, increase the risk of winter-related illnesses and death.
The report highlights that a warm home is a modifiable health factor which can lead to improved general health and well-being. The authors recommend that homes be heated to a temperature no lower than 18°C to protect health. In homes with older residents or where residents have health issues or disabilities, this temperature may need to be higher.
The recommendations are based on a household survey of over 2,000 residents in Wales between January and March 2022, undertaken by researchers at Bangor University.
Eighty per cent of participants reported having a working room thermostat or digital temperature controller in their home. Of those able to report the temperature of their home, 11 per cent lived in a colder home with temperatures below 18°C.
Homeownership status was the only factor independently associated with living in a cold home. Private renters were more than twice as likely to report living in a colder home compared to homeowners. Other factors such as age, geographical location and socioeconomic status were not associated with living in a cold home.
Residents in households where people had a disability or health condition, a low income, or those residents living alone or alone with at least one child reported being more likely to skip meals to ensure they could heat their home. Of those reporting thermal discomfort, 71 per cent said that this was because it cost too much to keep the heating on.
Dr Rebecca Hill, from Public Health Wales, said: ‘Our recommendations are based on the extensive evidence that home temperatures below 18°C can be harmful to health and wellbeing. We recognise that people who are older or have a health condition or disability are at particular risk of negative health and wellbeing outcomes in cold homes. However, the broader vulnerability to cold homes should be recognised; for example, low-income households and those who didn’t own their home were at increased risk of reporting the negative outcomes measured.’
She stated that such health inequalities need to be addressed through updated home heating guidelines, which consider the people most vulnerable to being in cold homes.
Dr Kat Ford, from Bangor University, added, ‘Our household survey took place at a time when the costs of energy and other household essentials were starting to increase but before the peak in energy bills. It is likely that this winter more people could struggle to adequately heat their homes. Therefore, it is important that members of the public can access information and advice on keeping healthy and safe at home in winter.’
