Poor housing 'affects children’s social and emotional wellbeing'

The ESRI study found one in 10 children lived in unsuitable housing, mainly due to the size of the accommodation, while a similar amount lived in homes that parents could not afford to keep warm. Picture: istock

Poor housing conditions and “disorderly” neighbourhoods affect children’s health, social, emotional well-being, a study has found.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) research found that children living in unheated or damp housing have worse health and developmental outcomes, and faced more social and emotional difficulties than those living in better-quality homes.