Retrofitting Homes Without Harming Health

Real-world learning, not just modelling 

Colin White, Principal Housing Delivery Officer at Newcastle City Council, is clear about the stakes: 

“We’ve seen in the past where insulation measures have caused problems in properties like damp and mould. With new standards we’re increasing airtightness, and that can seriously impact health and wellbeing. This study looks at real life, not just modelling data.” 

Over 90 homes are being monitored before and after retrofit works, with indoor sensors tracking particulates, CO₂, temperature, and humidity. Residents also complete health and wellbeing questionnaires, with input from health economists assessing impacts on NHS demand and wider social return on investment. 

Dr. Dani Baguley, postdoctoral research fellow, highlights the breadth:

“We’re collecting not just energy and air quality data but also health questionnaires, GP visits, even ambulance use. It’s about the whole picture of how retrofit affects people.” 

Residents as partners, not passive recipients 

One of the strongest lessons halfway through the project is the centrality of resident engagement. Participation is voluntary, incentivised with vouchers, and supported through one-to-one visits and feedback sessions. 

Baguley notes that residents value personalised feedback: “Many didn’t know how to use extractor fans or trickle vents. Simple advice on how ventilation affects health makes a big difference.” 

This has already influenced Newcastle’s approach. White explains, “We’re changing our literature. The information we provide after works is now tailored so residents really understand why the systems are going in and how to use them.” 

Such engagement has ripple effects. By treating tenants as partners rather than end-users, the council is not only improving retrofit outcomes but also building long-term trust. 

 Data, technology, and the human factor 

The IN2AIR team are candid about the challenges of managing data. Rogage observes, “We do a lot of data collection because we don’t always understand its value. The idea is to come out with a protocol, the minimum essential data needed so others don’t collect unnecessary information.” 

This is where the project breaks new ground: connecting building performance data with resident health data, something rarely attempted at scale. It also highlights the gaps in policy: there are no clear standards for safe indoor air quality in UK homes, leaving housing providers to interpret evidence themselves. 

Technology has a role, but it must be carefully considered. As White reflects, “With all the sensors and smart kit, we risk data overload. We need to turn information into simple, usable insights.” For many residents, particularly older tenants, simplicity is non-negotiable. Baguley recalls that some over-75s still struggle with retrofit controls years later. The lesson is clear: technology must work quietly in the background unless residents actively choose to engage. 

 Collaboration driving change 

This is not just a Newcastle project. Weekly collaboration brings together computer scientists, statisticians, health economists, environmental scientists, and housing officers. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine provides a public health perspective rarely integrated into housing projects. 

As Rogage stresses: “We couldn’t do it without collaboration. It stops us working in silos and gives a holistic view of the problem.” 

The ambition is to create a nationally relevant framework. The methodology and data schema will be published openly, offering housing providers a blueprint for measuring the real-world impacts of retrofit on both homes and health. 

 Why this matters for the housing sector 

The implications are significant. The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) is investing heavily in retrofit, but if works create unintended health harms, providers may face legal, reputational, and financial risks. The IN2AIR study demonstrates that the sector must go beyond EPC ratings and energy use and make health and wellbeing a central measure of success. 

As Jenny Danson reflected at the close of the discussion,

“Retrofitting is often done with the very best of intentions. But if we don’t think about ventilation, indoor air quality and how people actually live, we risk creating new problems while trying to solve old ones.” 

 Practical steps for housing providers 

For organisations preparing or delivering retrofit programmes, the In2Air study offers valuable lessons: 

• Measure what matters: Incorporate indoor air quality and resident health indicators alongside energy use in monitoring frameworks. 

• Engage residents early: Build participation and feedback loops into retrofit design, not as an afterthought. 

• Simplify technology: Choose systems that work in the background, with clear, accessible instructions for all tenants. 

• Tailor communication: Replace generic information packs with personalised, practical advice at each stage of retrofit. 

• Collaborate widely: Link housing, health, and academic expertise to develop more holistic retrofit strategies. 

Healthy, energy-efficient homes are possible but only if health is placed at the heart of retrofit. The In2Air project is showing us how.