Recommendations & Conclusions
11 items
1
Conclusion
4th Report – Housing Conditions in the …
Deferred
Most social homes provide tenants with warm, safe and decent places to live. The prevalence of poor conditions across the sector is generally lower than in other tenures. However, progress at bringing all social homes up to a minimum standard of decency has almost ground to a halt, with very …
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Most social homes provide tenants with warm, safe and decent places to live. The prevalence of poor conditions across the sector is generally lower than in other tenures. However, progress at bringing all social homes up to a minimum standard of decency has almost ground to a halt, with very little improvement since the pandemic. Over 25 years since the Decent Homes Standard was introduced, it is not acceptable that just under 430,000 social homes still fail to meet even this basic standard. Moreover, factors such as climate change, our country’s ageing population, and the inevitable deterioration of existing stock could lead to even more people living in poor quality, unsafe homes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 12)
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Government response AI summary
The government will set out wider plans for housing in the Long-Term Housing Strategy, which they will publish shortly, bringing together many of the changes that they have already announced and providing long-term certainty on future regulatory requirements.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
6
Recommendation
4th Report – Housing Conditions in the …
Deferred
The Government must urgently set and publish the timeline for extending Awaab’s Law to all remaining hazards, so that tenants and social landlords have clarity about when they can expect these new regulations to apply. This should be produced no later than 1st March 2026 to enable social housing providers …
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The Government must urgently set and publish the timeline for extending Awaab’s Law to all remaining hazards, so that tenants and social landlords have clarity about when they can expect these new regulations to apply. This should be produced no later than 1st March 2026 to enable social housing providers to factor the relevant costs into their budgets for the next financial year. (Recommendation, Paragraph 34)
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Government response AI summary
The Government will work with sector bodies to agree a compact, overseen by a taskforce, but provides no specific timeline for extending Awaab's Law to all remaining hazards.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
13
Conclusion
4th Report – Housing Conditions in the …
Deferred
The Government’s long implementation date for the revised Decent Homes Standard eases the burden on providers, but fails to deliver improvements with the urgency that social tenants deserve. Too many tenants will remain in poor quality, unsafe homes for too long under the implementation date that the Government has set. …
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The Government’s long implementation date for the revised Decent Homes Standard eases the burden on providers, but fails to deliver improvements with the urgency that social tenants deserve. Too many tenants will remain in poor quality, unsafe homes for too long under the implementation date that the Government has set. There is also a risk that many homes may fail to meet the revised Decent Homes Standard by the final implementation date. (Conclusion, Paragraph 54)
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Government response AI summary
The government will work with sector bodies to agree a compact overseen by a taskforce, which will focus on social and affordable housebuilding commitments and strengthened governance.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
14
Recommendation
4th Report – Housing Conditions in the …
Deferred
The Government must put in place interim targets to demonstrate to tenants and the public that progress is being made. We recommend that the Government introduce interim targets stipulating the percentage of social homes that should be upgraded to the revised Decent Homes Standard in each year before the final …
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The Government must put in place interim targets to demonstrate to tenants and the public that progress is being made. We recommend that the Government introduce interim targets stipulating the percentage of social homes that should be upgraded to the revised Decent Homes Standard in each year before the final implementation date. (Recommendation, Paragraph 55) The impact on the supply of social homes
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Government response AI summary
The Government will work with sector bodies to agree a compact, overseen by a taskforce, but provides no commitment to interim targets.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
2
Recommendation
5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temp…
Deferred
We recommend that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government use the English Housing Survey to routinely collect and publish national data on the quality of all types of temporary accommodation from 2027/28 onwards. (Recommendation, Paragraph 15) Hazards and disrepair
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We recommend that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government use the English Housing Survey to routinely collect and publish national data on the quality of all types of temporary accommodation from 2027/28 onwards. (Recommendation, Paragraph 15) Hazards and disrepair
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Government response AI summary
The government agreed with the need to improve understanding of temporary accommodation quality and is investigating options to enhance data collection, building on existing surveys like the English Housing Survey. They committed to providing an update to the Committee in the autumn.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
7
Recommendation
5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temp…
Deferred
We welcome the government’s intention to apply Awaab’s Law to temporary accommodation. The power to take legal action against their provider for failing to resolve serious hazards in a timely manner will substantially strengthen the protections that exist for people living in temporary accommodation. However, a phased rollout is advisable …
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We welcome the government’s intention to apply Awaab’s Law to temporary accommodation. The power to take legal action against their provider for failing to resolve serious hazards in a timely manner will substantially strengthen the protections that exist for people living in temporary accommodation. However, a phased rollout is advisable to give providers time to ensure robust arrangements are in place to investigate and resolve hazards in a timely manner. (Conclusion, Paragraph 28)
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Government response AI summary
The government stated that Awaab's Law already applies to social rented temporary accommodation and they will soon consult on extending its scope to private rented temporary accommodation and those occupied under licence. They will consider the recommendation for a phased rollout as part of their …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
8
Recommendation
5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temp…
Deferred
The government should begin to rollout Awaab’s Law urgently to ensure the regulations are fully applied to temporary accommodation by the end of 2028/29. By then, legal timescales must be in place covering all applicable significant and emergency hazards covered by the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System. (Recommendation, Paragraph …
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The government should begin to rollout Awaab’s Law urgently to ensure the regulations are fully applied to temporary accommodation by the end of 2028/29. By then, legal timescales must be in place covering all applicable significant and emergency hazards covered by the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System. (Recommendation, Paragraph 29) A lack of space
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Government response AI summary
The government states Awaab’s Law already applies to social housing tenancies used as temporary accommodation. For other temporary accommodation types, they will soon consult on extending the law's scope and will consider this recommendation as part of their consultation response.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
18
Recommendation
5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temp…
Deferred
It is not acceptable for households in temporary accommodation to be left living for months, if not longer, without access to the basic facilities they need for daily life. The ministry must introduce further measures to improve households’ access to basic facilities, such as kitchens, washing machines and basic furnishings. …
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It is not acceptable for households in temporary accommodation to be left living for months, if not longer, without access to the basic facilities they need for daily life. The ministry must introduce further measures to improve households’ access to basic facilities, such as kitchens, washing machines and basic furnishings. (Conclusion, Paragraph 63)
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to engaging with the sector and reviewing how to implement the Decent Homes Standard across temporary accommodation, but defers a decision on specific amendments or routes until further consideration.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
20
Recommendation
5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temp…
Deferred
We recommend that the Secretary of State amend the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) Order 2003 to extend the six-week limit to accommodation that cannot comply with the new Decent Homes Standard. The six-week limit should apply from the date that the new standard comes into force in 2035. The ministry …
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We recommend that the Secretary of State amend the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) Order 2003 to extend the six-week limit to accommodation that cannot comply with the new Decent Homes Standard. The six-week limit should apply from the date that the new standard comes into force in 2035. The ministry also must require local authorities to report 64 publicly when they have suspended enforcement action or applied hazard awareness notices to ensure properties that do not fully comply with the standard remain a last resort. (Recommendation, Paragraph 65) Complex needs
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Government response AI summary
The government will engage with the sector to understand how to implement the Decent Homes Standard across temporary accommodation and review compliance, but is not yet in a position to confirm amending the Suitability Order, though it will be considered.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
25
Conclusion
5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temp…
Deferred
The rules that determine the amount of money councils can claim through the Housing Benefit subsidy system is restricting their ability to source good-quality temporary accommodation for households. The Department for Work and Pension’s ongoing freeze of the subsidy rates is putting an enormous financial strain on councils. The freeze …
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The rules that determine the amount of money councils can claim through the Housing Benefit subsidy system is restricting their ability to source good-quality temporary accommodation for households. The Department for Work and Pension’s ongoing freeze of the subsidy rates is putting an enormous financial strain on councils. The freeze in subsidy rates limits the range of affordable options available to councils and acts as a disincentive 65 for them to enter longer-term leases that could strengthen their ability to raise standards, due to the risk of being exposed to large costs on their general funds. Within a financially constrained environment, we are also concerned that the rates reimbursed for different types of accommodation create an incentive for councils to place households in accommodation with support they may not need. (Conclusion, Paragraph 81)
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Government response AI summary
The government states the DWP is keeping Housing Benefit subsidy levels under review and commits to considering the best way to sustainably fund good-quality temporary accommodation, linking it to a thematic review on homelessness.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
26
Recommendation
5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temp…
Deferred
We recommend that the Department for Work and Pensions unfreeze the subsidy rates by increasing the rate councils are reimbursed to match the current Local Housing Allowance rate. We also recommend that the Government conduct a detailed review of the subsidy rules to ensure they incentivise councils to source good-quality …
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We recommend that the Department for Work and Pensions unfreeze the subsidy rates by increasing the rate councils are reimbursed to match the current Local Housing Allowance rate. We also recommend that the Government conduct a detailed review of the subsidy rules to ensure they incentivise councils to source good-quality accommodation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 82)
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Government response AI summary
The government stated that the Department for Work and Pensions is keeping Housing Benefit subsidy levels under review, with future decisions dependent on government missions and fiscal context, rather than committing to unfreezing rates to match LHA. They are also committed to considering sustainable funding …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government