The 2011 Census reported that there were approximately 1.1 million overcrowded households in England and Wales. Prior research has shown that overcrowded households negatively affect the physical health (in terms of the transmission of illness and disease) and mental health (for example, anxiety, depression and stress) of those living in them.

Using 2011 Census data, this analysis looks further at general health by bedroom occupancy rating in England (regionally as well as nationally) and Wales. This analysis will be useful for national and local policy makers, seeking evidence on the wider determinants of health inequality (for example, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Welsh Government and the Local Government Association) to use in cross-sector actions such as addressing housing supply limitations and improving living standards, especially in the social housing sector. This analysis will also inform discussions and debates such as the National Conversation on Health Inequalities, launched in February 2014 by Public Health England

Key points

• Residents living in overcrowded households reported significantly higher levels of ‘Not Good’ health compared with those living in under-occupied households.
• Young people (aged 0 to 15) were more than twice as likely to report ‘Not Good’ health if they lived in overcrowded households than in under-occupied households.
• In three of the four age groups (0 to 15, 50 to 64 and 65+), the West Midlands had the largest general health gap between residents living in under-occupied households and residents living in overcrowded households across the English regions and Wales.
• Across all age groups residents in the South East reported consistently lower levels of ‘Not Good’ health in both under-occupied and overcrowded households.