Social housing tenants living in uninhabitable homes

The cross-party Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee has published a report saying the condition of some social housing in England has deteriorated so badly that it is unfit for human habitation, and social housing providers must significantly improve their complaint handling process.

The Regulation of Social Housing report highlights several issues relating to the supply, quality and regulation of social housing in England.

The report says that the social housing sector is under significant financial pressure and there is a social housing shortage. Some of the disrepair can be attributed to the age and design of the housing stock, some of which, the report acknowledges was never built to last. The report recommends government funding for regeneration, to reduce reliance on outdated stock.

The report claims that one of the biggest problems facing the sector is the power imbalance between social housing tenants and housing providers, whilst also recommending that providers should be required to support the establishment of genuinely independent and representative tenant and resident associations, including a national tenant voice body.

In relation to complaint handling, the report recommends for providers and the ombudsman to bring forward a strategy to improve public awareness of the ombudsman and how tenants can make complaints to the ombudsman.

The authors of the report are also calling for the regulator to be more proactive in defending the interests of tenants and for the regulator to make more use of its enforcement powers, particularly in the most serious cases.

Clive Betts, Labour MP for Sheffield South East and Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee, said: “Social housing plays a vital role in giving people a secure and affordable home, offering those in social housing protection from the rising costs and insecurity of private renting.

“Too many social housing tenants are living in uninhabitable homes and experiencing appalling conditions and levels of disrepair, including serious damp and mould, with potential serious impacts on their mental and physical health.

“The poor complaint handling of some providers not only adds insult to injury but the resulting delays in resolving tenant complaints actively contributes to the levels of disrepair. Sadly, beyond the distress of experiencing poor living conditions, it is undeniable that tenants also face poor treatment from providers who discriminate and stigmatise people because they are social housing tenants.

“This must change. Providers need to up their game, treat tenants with dignity and respect, and put tenants at the centre of how they deliver housing services, including by regularly monitoring the condition of their housing stock. Where they fail, providers should face the prospect of tough action from a more active regulator. Given the financial loss, inconvenience, and distress caused to tenants from serious cases of disrepair, the Government also needs to equip the ombudsman with the power to award far higher levels of compensation to tenants when there has been serious service failings.”