By Vivienne Russell
23 March 2010
MPs have applauded the success of the government’s decent homes programme, but say a similar effort needs to be made for private rented accommodation.
The communities and local government select committee today notes that the £40bn programme has had a positive effect on the living conditions of most social housing tenants. It has funded the installation of 700,000 new kitchens, 525,000 new bathrooms and more than 1 million new central heating systems as well as other improvements. Over 90% of social housing has so far been improved under the programme: the target is for 100% by the end of 2010, although ministers admit this is likely to be missed.
The committee’s report criticises the government for failing to invest in the parallel programme designed to improve the homes of vulnerable people living in private rented accommodation.
Downgrading the target for decent home compliance in the private sector served only to ‘weaken’ local authorities’ already patchy relationships with private landlords, the MPs claim.
Committee chair Phyllis Starkey said many elderly and vulnerable people lived in privately rented homes.
‘The government must set clear long-term targets to bring all homes in the private sector up to the decent homes standard and use regulation more effectively to deliver those targets,’ she said.
‘People living in private housing should not have to settle for inferior accommodation simply because they are not on benefits… The next government must commit itself to a programme of measures which will keep the decency of all accommodation well up the political agenda,’ she added.
The MPs also call on the government to clarify future funding arrangements for homes that have not met the standards. They say it remains unclear how the improvements to the remaining social homes will be paid for and how much funding will be made available to maintain the standards.
23 March 2010
MPs have applauded the success of the government’s decent homes programme, but say a similar effort needs to be made for private rented accommodation.
The communities and local government select committee today notes that the £40bn programme has had a positive effect on the living conditions of most social housing tenants. It has funded the installation of 700,000 new kitchens, 525,000 new bathrooms and more than 1 million new central heating systems as well as other improvements. Over 90% of social housing has so far been improved under the programme: the target is for 100% by the end of 2010, although ministers admit this is likely to be missed.
The committee’s report criticises the government for failing to invest in the parallel programme designed to improve the homes of vulnerable people living in private rented accommodation.
Downgrading the target for decent home compliance in the private sector served only to ‘weaken’ local authorities’ already patchy relationships with private landlords, the MPs claim.
Committee chair Phyllis Starkey said many elderly and vulnerable people lived in privately rented homes.
‘The government must set clear long-term targets to bring all homes in the private sector up to the decent homes standard and use regulation more effectively to deliver those targets,’ she said.
‘People living in private housing should not have to settle for inferior accommodation simply because they are not on benefits… The next government must commit itself to a programme of measures which will keep the decency of all accommodation well up the political agenda,’ she added.
The MPs also call on the government to clarify future funding arrangements for homes that have not met the standards. They say it remains unclear how the improvements to the remaining social homes will be paid for and how much funding will be made available to maintain the standards.
