Why we created the HHC
We believe that everyone has the right to live in a healthy home.
Poor quality homes in England cost the NHS £1.4 billion every year — and cost society an estimated £18.6 billion annually. (BRE)
The Healthy Homes Checklist was created in response to this crisis — to help developers, architects, and decision-makers ensure homes support human health at every level.
We spend around 90% of our time indoors, and yet many homes in the UK fail to support even basic physical or mental well-being. Mould, damp, poor ventilation, lack of daylight, and overheating are common — across all housing types, not just social housing.
The Checklist was created in response to a lack of residential-focused ‘best practice’ guidance. Current British minimum standards fall far short of ensuring optimal healthy homes, while most voluntary building Certifications are not focused entirely on health and well-being, or are not UK-specific and come with additional fees and costs.
The Checklist has been created by combining best practice guidance from a range of academic and empirical sources. During its development, we consulted with a range of experienced residential design specialists including architects, MEP engineers, acousticians and landscape designers, alongside developers, to ensure its recommendations remain practical and achievable.
The Checklist is an assessment tool to be used by housing providers to clearly demonstrate that their homes are going above and beyond industry standards to target exceptional health and well-being outcomes. Using it ensures that you are designing homes that truly support the physical and mental health of individuals, families and communities.
The Healthy Homes Checklist is for you if you are...
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A developer looking to future-proof your offering
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An architect designing for wellbeing
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A housing provider or local authority aiming to raise standards
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Or simply committed to making health a core part of your project's DNA
What you gain by registering
Inform and inspire
Demonstrate to a new wave of consumers that your homes are designed with their long-term health in mind — backed by science and evidence.
Showcase your Strengths
Harness your existing best practices and highlight them in a credible, structured way.
Identify Opportunities
Use the Checklist to review and refine your approach across over 130 touchpoints — from daylight to material health.
Stand out in the Market
Create unique selling points and brand trust in a growing wellness-conscious marketplace.
Add Value at Every Stage
Healthy homes often mean lower operating costs, fewer defects, and higher occupant satisfaction — all of which contribute to long-term value.
A Stepping Stone to Certification
Whether you're aiming for WELL, Fitwel, or another healthy building standard, the HHC provides a practical foundation to build on.