9.5 million people living in the UK live with significant housing issues, having a detrimental effect on wellbeing, according to a new report.

The report published by Kingfisher plc, which surveyed 7,000 people across five European countries, suggests 18 per cent of the UK population are facing significant housing issues. Of those, 74 per cent believed they have little or no control over the situation.

The report also finds that this issue has been exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 50 per cent of UK residents saying it has made the issue of unfit housing more of a problem.

Experts warn this issue has been compounded by living under lockdowns for long periods, leaving many respondents feeling “trapped” in unfit homes, and “powerless” to do anything about it.

Significant housing issues showed to have a detrimental effect on wellbeing. It was cited that 42 per cent of those living under such conditions expressed it had an impact on their health, with 30 per cent saying it has had an impact on their children.

In the UK, the three most common significant housing issues were being cold, damp, and noise. Other problems ranged from inadequate heating or insulation, to pests and overcrowding.

Dean Barber, who lives in social housing in Middlesbrough, has experienced damp and mould throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

When asked how his living conditions have affected his health, he said he feels “trapped inside his own home.”

“I struggle with depression and anxiety. The condition of my home had a detrimental impact on my self-esteem and motivation - lockdown has made my mental health worse.”

The report by Kingfisher titled ‘If Walls Could Talk’, aims to highlight the scale of these issues and broaden the conversation about them, while illustrating steps that can be taken to help to make home improvement accessible to everyone.

In the UK, Kingfisher has partnered with housing and homelessness charity Shelter to lead a fundraising drive with a donation of £100,000 which aims to help Shelter answer up to 10,000 calls to its emergency helplines across the UK.

Thierry Garnier CEO of Kingfisher said, “as people live with lockdowns as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, we are spending much more time at home than usual. For people in housing they believe is unfit, the pandemic has made the experience of living at home worse.

He continues, “we have also looked at the wider implications that these problems can have on their physical and mental health. It’s abundantly clear that these issues have been made worse throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. We have set a goal to help more than one million people whose housing needs are greatest by 2025.”

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said the pandemic had “brutally exposed the depths of our housing emergency”.

She said, “It’s difficult enough to cope living day-to-day with problems like damp, cold and even rats, let alone during a global health crisis when your home is your only refuge. We are incredibly grateful for Kingfisher's ongoing support, which will help us be there for the people who need us this winter - and in the months ahead.”