Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Accepted
Paragraph: 16
Poor quality private rented housing burdens NHS, lacking promised minimum quality standard.
Conclusion
Homes in the private rented sector contribute disproportionately to both the total number of poor quality homes and the costs that poor housing causes to the NHS. The existence of a statutory minimum standard for housing in the social rented sector is not enough on its own to protect tenants and the health service from the many preventable health impacts of poor quality and unsafe housing. The Renters (Reform) Bill contains some welcome steps to further protect tenants. But recent high profile cases involving tenants in social housing have demonstrated that the health impact of poor quality housing can be catastrophic. Over three years after the Government first committed to review and then extend the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector, no legal minimum quality standard exists to protect tenants in private rentals.
Government Response Summary
The government highlights existing measures such as the Nationally Described Space Standard, requirements for Permitted Development Rights, and design codes as mechanisms to maintain design quality. They conclude that further consultation on design or space standards is not necessary at this time.
Paragraph Reference:
16
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We recognise the importance and role that housing standards have in helping to maintain design quality, which is why Government introduced the Nationally Described Space Standard in March 2015, setting minimum internal sizes for a range of different homes, including houses and flats. As set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, local authorities have the option to make use of the nationally described space standard in their areas through their local plan policies to address a clear and justified need and where the impact on viability and housing supply have been considered. As the Committee noted, since April 2021 all new homes delivered under national permitted development rights must meet the nationally described space standards. This is a blanket requirement that applies to all such rights and so will apply to any new and amended permitted development rights that deliver homes. In addition, all homes delivered under permitted development rights since 2020 must provide adequate natural light in all habitable rooms. More broadly, in terms of other issues raised by the Committee, the permitted development right for the change of use of shops and offices to residential allows for local consideration of the impact on future residents from noise of commercial premises, and development in areas that are important for industry and storage or distribution. Other permitted development rights provide flexibility for householders to extend their homes to provide additional living space for growing families without the need for a planning application. These permitted development rights are subject to various conditions and limitations such as size limits to manage impacts on neighbours. We have recently consulted on changes to the householder permitted development rights and further details will be provided in due course. As the Committee highlights, the National Model Design Code published in 2021, is part of the national planning practice guidance that supports the National Planning Policy Framework and provides tools and guidance to local councils for producing design codes. This guidance highlights that the built environment has a significant impact on people’s health and wellbeing and that, design codes provide a tool through which a local authority could set rules to ensure the design of new places include a mix of uses supporting everyday activities and an integrated mix of housing tenures and types to suit people at all stages of life. We recently consulted on whether permitted development rights that include prior approval in respect of design or external appearance should allow for consideration of local design codes where they are in place locally. This consultation closed in September 2023 and further announcements will be made in due course. The Government is committed to ensuring the planning system creates healthier and more sustainable buildings and places. Through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, we have introduced a duty for all local councils to produce a design code at the spatial scale of their authority area, either as part of their local plan or as a supplementary plan, which will give design codes significant weight when planning applications are determined. Design codes set the standard of design for a local area, providing clarity about design expectations and will be prepared locally, reflect the local context and be based on effective community involvement, so that local people have a real say in the design of new homes and neighbourhoods. Design codes can help steer new development to deliver healthy, greener, sustainable, distinctive and beautiful places, with a consistent and high-quality standard of design. We hope that this response gives some assurance to the Committee that we are already taking steps to ensure that design and space standards address health and well-being needs. Based upon this we do not believe it is necessary to consult on our design or space standards at this time. Neighbourhoods and the Planning System What do “healthy neighbourhoods” look like?