Housing quality has a profound impact on health, with poor housing conditions exacerbating health inequalities, a situation made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. For many residents in social housing communities, living in overcrowded homes with issues like damp, mould, cold, and pests is a daily reality. These challenges directly influence physical and mental health, raising the question: how can we build better connections between housing and health sectors to address these issues?

In this seminar, we will explore what it means to create healthy, adequate living environments in social housing, drawing on insights from academia, local government, public housing tenants, and the health sector. We will critically examine how these concepts can be practically assessed and effectively embedded into policy frameworks, while also discussing the importance of long-term collaboration between housing and health improvement initiatives. Through real-world examples and a focus on ‘City of Care’ urbanism, this session aims to spark a lively discussion on creating healthier, more sustainable living places.