5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

Many dwellings do not meet minimum standards to support the health of their occupants. Recognising the seriousness of the problem, in 2018 the World Health Organisation (WHO) published guidelines on housing and health. In low-, medium-, and high-income countries, heating, cooling and protection from moisture, mould, and injury and pollution hazards can be inadequate. In this context, the changing climate adds another challenge, with increased heat and accelerating disaster risks such as fires, droughts, and floods.

Tenants are a group facing the most difficult challenges due to the limits on both their resources and restrictions on changes they can make to their home, while minimum requirements for property maintenance are very low in some jurisdictions. Recognising the role of regulatory authorities, the WHO guidelines aim to inform policies at all levels of government and the practices of actors involved in construction, maintenance and demolition of housing. However, so far not much has changed for renters or tenants, who experience the worst impacts at the intersection of housing financialisation, accelerating climate risks, and in some cases, deregulation of the construction sector.

Presentations on the themes of housing and health are welcomed, including renting in a changing climate and consequences for renters of climate change adaptation and retrofitting programs.