Housing affordability study: Findings report

4. Views on standards of living

This chapter describes participants’ views on what constitutes a decent standard of living. Participants discussed various requirements, including technical standards related to the fabric of a home and less tangible factors which affect quality of life more widely.

Technical requirements of a home

Participants specified a number of technical standards that housing needs to meet to satisfy a decent standard of living; these included considerations of health, safety and comfort. The following essential criteria for a home were each mentioned by multiple tenants:

• Structurally sound and free from hazards
• Adequate natural light and ventilation
• Wind- and water-tight
• Free from damp and mould
• Warm, well-insulated and energy efficient

“All housing should meet the tolerable standard, which is wind-tight, water-tight.” (Private tenant)

“What I'd be looking for is what anybody would be looking for, nice and comfortable, water-tight and no damp.” (Social tenant)

Factors related to quality of life

Aspects of housing that contribute to an individual’s quality of life were also mentioned by participants. For example, tenants considered it vital to live in a situation which is not detrimental to your mental health; adding that peace of mind entails living in a safe, affordable and secure position without fear of losing your home.

“A decent standard of living is one where your mental health isn’t being affected by the cost of bills increasing, inflation and housing precarity.” (Private tenant)

“I don't want to be sat worrying how I'm going to pay the bills every single month. I need to be able to know that I can pay my bills and that's part of the feeling safe as well.” (Social tenant)

The right to privacy also featured in these discussions; a few reflected on the importance of having private space and not being overlooked or intruded upon. One participant was concerned that affordability issues have made house-sharing more common at a much later stage in life, and said this can have negative implications for living standards and feelings of independence and safety.

“A crucial part of security and sustainability… is being able to live alone and independently because there are so many situations that affect your security that can arise in house-sharing… you could end up having to live with a bunch of people you don't know. You are contractually obliged, financially, with a group of people that you barely know. That is a key factor in my idea of secure, stable housing.” (Private tenant)

The role of neighbours and community in contributing to acceptable living standards was raised. Participants valued peace and quiet in and around their home, and felt that respectful neighbours are crucial in achieving this. In these discussions, participants spoke about community safety, highlighting that how safe they, or their family, feel in the surrounding area can influence an individual’s standard of living.

“When it comes to my house, I want to feel safe. It doesn’t just have to be safe, I want to feel safe and that it's not affecting my health and there's a community there.” (Social tenant)

“I know that I can walk about my high street past youths and nothing's going to happen. I know my daughters can go out and nothing's going to happen to them. It's a safe area. It's very safe.” (Social tenant)

Access to public resources and amenities such as libraries, shops, schools, and public transport was also raised; one person mentioned this in the context of their support for 20 minute neighbourhoods. Another highlighted the importance of access to recreational or green spaces for exercise and sources of fresh, healthy food to enable a healthy diet.

“Having facilities in your area - I think that's huge. Having places where you can buy healthy food within a reasonable distance from your home. I think that's essential for a decent standard of living.” (Private tenant)

A few felt that autonomy and control over your home and living space was important, for example design choices, furniture and ‘home comforts’. One participant described a previous home as “unliveable” due to the dark green shade of the walls. They said the darkness affected their family’s wellbeing and quality of life. Participants agreed that a decent standard of living requires a home which is decorated to a reasonable standard and not what they called “extreme tastes”.

A few reflected on how dignity is an important aspect of a decent standard of living; not only living with dignity in that your basic needs are met, but also being treated with dignity and respect by the person you rent your home from. They said it was important to be seen and recognised as a human being with needs to be met and a future to save for, not just an opportunity for someone to exploit or profit from.

“The housing agencies really do not see you as a human, they see you as a way to get more… it's really adversarial. So for me, it's that feeling of dignity, that you're being treated well.” (Private tenant)