Despite community expectations that housing provides shelter and safety to its inhabitants, inadequate housing is also a significant social determinant of death. This article examines reports by the Northern Territory Coroner in terms of the systemic and individual factors contributing to deaths caused by housing. These reports highlight the maintenance work instigated by preventable deaths and the need for greater investment in preventive housing maintenance. The article concludes by reflecting on the coronial archive as an object for further examination of housing harms.
Liam Grealy (2026) studied this question.