Selection behavior for healthy and comfortable housing

Abstract

Housing selection behavior is complex. The WHO housing and health guidelines in 2018 make recommendations for eliminating overcrowding, avoiding excessive cold and ensuring a temperature of 18°C or higher, preventing excessive heat, preventing accidents in the home, and providing barrier-free access. This paper reviews the situation surrounding housing selection behavior in Japan, with reference to statistical data, legal systems, and previous studies. The paper then reviews the state of intervention in housing policy in Japan and the UK, based on “the intervention ladder” concerning healthy and comfortable housing selection behavior. In Japan, although the development of the Performance Indication System, the Building Energy Conservation Law, and the CASBEE health checklist has already been actively promoted, the level of intervention in Japan is not high compared to that in the UK, which has a system for determining the occupant performance of housing and issuing renovation orders, as necessary. The level of intervention in Japan is not high. Although policies to enhance residential literacy and to guide people through incentives have been implemented, some mechanisms are required to assist appropriate housing selection behavior from the viewpoint of health and quality of life. housing and health, comfort, selection behavior, the intervention ladder