Research from University College London (UCL) shows people living in homes converted from offices and other buildings in England could be harming their health. 

The study, published on Wednesday (28 October), found residents in Bradford visited their GP 50% more after moving into such properties. 

What's more, 22% of residents were more likely to suffer with depression, compared with the national average of 16%.

Professor Ben Clifford, lead author of the study, said: 'There is a deep, important link between housing and health. Where you live can make a significant different to your health and wellbeing. 

'Our research shows the planning deregulation that led to these converted properties has led to a large quantity of substandard housing which risks the health of their residents as a result.'

To conduct the study, which can be read in full here, experts looked at 42 homes and found carbon dioxide levels exceeded World Health Organisation guidelines in all but two. 

Seven in 10 properties were too cold in winter, while three in 10 overheated in summer. Poor ventilation and a lack of natural light were also common. 

The properties were created under planning rules introduced in 2013 that allow offices to be converted into housing without full planning permission. The rules were extended in 2015 to cover buildings including shops and agricultural properties. 

Over 770,000 homes have been created under the rules, about 85% of them converted from offices. 

Rosalie Callway, projects and policy manager at the Town and Country Planning Association, which worked on the study, said: 'Everyone agrees the country needs more homes. But they need to be the right homes, in the right places and of a quality that gives people a firm foundation to build healthy, secure lives.'