It would cost about 19 billion just to bring the worst council housing up to a decent modern standard. Many live on estates which have been left to deteriorate for too long, and which contribute to ill health, crime and poverty. The most disadvantaged have often been concentrated in the poorest housing. Some homeowners, including many retired people, cannot afford to maintain their own homes. Others who have bought cannot afford mortgage payments, for example after losing a job.
Some people are homeless, or even sleeping rough.
The impact of these problems is as clear as the benefits of decent housing. There are strong associations between poor housing and poverty, deprivation, crime, educational under-achievement and ill health. People are discriminated against in looking for work or using services because of where they live. Whole neighbourhoods suffer from neglect. The housing market has structural problems too.