Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Paragraph: 7
Place of residence significantly impacts health, driving preventable health inequalities in disadvantaged areas.
Conclusion
The places where people live—homes, communities and neighbourhoods—affect their health and wellbeing substantially. Place, health inequalities and the likelihood of developing preventable health conditions are inextricably linked. People from less well-off groups, and those who live in less well-off neighbourhoods, have a much higher likelihood of developing life-limiting health conditions and associated comorbidities, and of dying prematurely from the effects of those conditions. Although much of this ill-health is preventable, it is also often not within the power of individuals to control.
Government Response Summary
The government is extending the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) to the private rented sector through the Renters (Reform) Bill and aims to halve non-decent rented homes by 2030. They have engaged with stakeholders, commissioned analysis, and intend to publish a consultation on an updated DHS soon.
Paragraph Reference:
7
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Everyone has the right to a safe and decent home and since 2001 the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) has played a key role in providing a minimum quality standard that social homes should meet. The Levelling Up White Paper set out the government’s ambition to halve the number of non-decent rented homes by 2030 with the biggest improvements in the lowest performing areas, highlighting our commitment to level up the sector and ensure all renters have good quality homes. During our consultation events preparing the Social Housing Green and White Papers, we heard that the DHS is no longer fully effective and does not meet present day concerns. We committed to reviewing the DHS in the Charter for Social Housing Residents: The Social Housing White Paper. In the Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper we committed to extending the DHS to the private rented sector (PRS), ensuring that tenants across both tenures are secured in the knowledge that they are living in safe and decent homes. The Renters (Reform) Bill will deliver on this commitment, bringing the PRS under the scope of a DHS for the first time. We consulted on applying the DHS to the PRS at the end of 2022 and will be publishing our response to that in due course. It is important that residents, landlords and technical experts can have their voices heard on what the new DHS should cover. Launching a formal consultation is an essential part of the review process. During 2023 we engaged with residents, landlords and technical experts on changes to the DHS, following which we commissioned analysis on the costs and benefits of updated DHS options. It is critical that the DHS is introduced to all rented sectors and that it sets the right requirements on decency. We are working towards this and we intend to publish our consultation on an updated DHS soon. Obligations to repair hazards