Boards That Ask Better Questions Create Healthier Homes

Reflections from the NHF Board Leadership Conference – February 2026 

In February, I had the privilege of speaking on a panel at the NHF Board Leadership Conference, alongside colleagues from academia and AWS. It was one of those sessions where nobody was pretending this work is easy. Boards are being asked to juggle building safety, decarbonisation, stock condition, financial pressure and rising resident expectations, all at the same time. The conversation stayed grounded in that reality, but it didn’t let us off the hook either. 

We talked about the issues we see again and again across UK housing stock: damp, condensation and mould, leaks, overcrowding, and the day to day strain residents experience when their home doesn’t support healthy living. We also talked about something that is often treated as secondary, but really shouldn’t be: resident satisfaction with the home. Because when you look properly at the evidence, satisfaction isn’t a fluffy measure. It is a strong predictor of health outcomes. 

That’s the point that matters most. Housing quality isn’t a “nice to have” discussion. It is a public health intervention.