WHO Housing and Health Guidelines
About this book
The WHO Housing and Health Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for healthy housing conditions, developed by the World Health Organization to support national and local governments in developing housing policies and regulations that protect and promote the health of occupants. Published in 2018 following an extensive systematic review of global health evidence, the guidelines cover four major housing conditions with direct and significant impacts on human health. The first area covered is inadequate living space and crowding.
The guidelines synthesize evidence showing that overcrowded housing is associated with increased transmission of respiratory infections including influenza and tuberculosis, elevated stress and mental health problems, impaired educational outcomes in children, and increased risk of domestic violence. The guidelines provide specific recommendations on minimum floor area per person, while acknowledging that cultural and contextual factors influence what constitutes adequate space. The second area is indoor cold and thermal conditions.
The guidelines establish that cold indoor temperatures — particularly below 18°C for vulnerable populations including the elderly, young children, and those with chronic illness — are associated with significantly elevated risks of cardiovascular and respiratory disease and mortality. The thermal comfort chapter draws on the growing body of evidence linking indoor temperature to health outcomes and provides recommendations for minimum heating standards in housing. Excessive indoor heat is addressed as an increasingly important public health concern in the context of climate change.
Heat-related illness and mortality, particularly among the elderly, has grown substantially and the guidelines recommend design and operational measures to prevent excessive indoor temperatures, including shading, ventilation, and green spaces. The fourth area covered is home dampness and mould. The guidelines synthesize extensive epidemiological evidence showing that exposure to damp and mouldy conditions is causally associated with increased incidence of respiratory illness, asthma, allergic symptoms, and respiratory infections.
The recommendations emphasize prevention through adequate ventilation, moisture control in building envelope design, and prompt remediation when dampness occurs. The guidelines have been influential in housing policy development internationally and are directly relevant to green building design, where thermal performance, ventilation, and moisture management are central concerns. Sources: World Health Organization (who.int); WHO Housing and Health Guidelines 2018 official publication; Systematic reviews cited in the guidelines.