Issues in social housing that Labour will have to take on | Letters

The housing ombudsman’s newest document recorded a vital build up in social housing maintenance and upkeep court cases since 2020 (Housing ombudsman for England warns of ‘simmering anger’ over dwelling stipulations, 29 May). We as a sector reinforce the ombudsman’s marketing campaign to boost consciousness amongst tenants of routes to redress in circumstances the place problems with their houses have no longer been resolved. It may be necessary to take a look at those figures in context.

The build up represents one grievance upheld through the ombudsman for each and every 1,000 social houses. With many extra citizens now acutely aware of the ombudsman’s carrier following an advert marketing campaign, care will have to be taken when drawing any conclusions from the information.

Looking at motion and funding within the sector, we all know that the standard of social housing is bettering. Housing associations have prioritised funding of their present houses, expanding spending on maintenance and upkeep through 55% since 2020, making an investment a report £8.8bn remaining 12 months, with plans to spend an additional £50bn over the following 5 years. Today 90% of housing affiliation houses meet the respectable houses same old, greater than some other tenure, however there’s paintings nonetheless to do and the sphere is dedicated to making sure that each and every unmarried house is of prime quality.

However, cuts to social housing over a few years have exacerbated high quality problems, and simplest an build up in investment can deal with this long-term, because the ombudsman recognises. Some houses are in pressing want of regeneration, investment for which was once reduce in its entirety in 2010.

In addition, overcrowding – at its easiest stage in 30 years – is a vital contributor to damp and mold. Financial pressures imply that through prioritising funding in present houses, the sphere is much less in a position to construct new houses, which is very important for tackling overcrowding. The upcoming spending evaluate is a crucial second for the federal government to supply monetary reinforce for present and new social housing.
Kate Henderson
Chief government, National Housing Federation

It was once distressing however no longer unexpected to learn your document in regards to the dire state of the rustic’s social housing. I survive a big property in south London that has been significantly mismanaged through a tenant control organisation (TMO) for many years. TMOs are a commonplace machine like that during position in Kensington and Chelsea ahead of the Grenfell Tower hearth, which at first aimed handy energy to citizens however has turn into an open door for abuse. There are roughly 230 TMOs in England managing tens of hundreds of houses.

On our property, maintenance are left undone for months or years, many houses are stuffed with damp and mold, fly-tipping is out of regulate, vermin run wild and citizens are blocked from the use of the neighborhood areas. One guy advised me just lately how he has lived with out central heating for years.

fees proceed to escalate, and but concierges whom those charges are supposed to fund are most commonly absent. Lifts are frequently out of order. Many really feel apprehensive in regards to the state in their apartments – with the location having a major have an effect on on their bodily and psychological well being. Residents really feel silenced and even threatened once they carry court cases. Anger is emerging and citizens are distraught.

The govt must do an pressing evaluate of TMO regulation, which simplest turns out to give protection to those that organize social housing estates, no longer those that reside in damp, insufficient and rotting houses.
Katherine Maxwell-Rose
London

It isn’t a surprise that the housing ombudsman, Richard Blakeway, has highlighted “simmering anger at poor housing conditions”, and the considerable build up in tenants’ court cases.

But the issue of non-decent and hazardous houses isn’t simply confined to social housing. In the United Kingdom, 15% of houses total – which equates to 3.7m houses – are in the sort of unhealthy state of restore that they don’t succeed in the federal government’s minimal requirements of decency.

That manner just about 8 million persons are dwelling in houses that may negatively have an effect on their well being and wellbeing, with 2.6 million being 55 and over. Many of those older persons are susceptible.

If you don’t reside in a just right house, it’s roughly not possible to be in just right well being – specifically in later existence. Homes which might be damp, chilly and dangerous may end up in many well being issues, together with bronchial asthma, strokes, center assaults and damaged bones. These may have devastating penalties for people, and provide prices and calls for to the NHS and social services and products. And if left unchecked, the issue gets worse. In the United Kingdom, 80% of the nationwide construction inventory will nonetheless be in use through 2050 – and it’s already one of the most oldest construction shares in Europe.

We’re calling at the govt to make a dedication to bettering the standard of chilly, unhealthy houses – each for social and personal tenants, and for poorer house owners – within the approaching nationwide housing technique. This will have to set out detailed plans to take on poor-quality houses of all kinds.

Looking to the longer term, we additionally want to imagine new houses and ensure that they’re available for disabled and older other people. We have an ethical legal responsibility to make sure that probably the most susceptible other people in society reside in a house this is secure.
Dr Carole Easton
Chief government, Centre for Ageing Better