Select Committee · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Housing Conditions in England

Status: Open Opened: 3 Jul 2025 52 recommendations 40 conclusions 3 reports

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee is holding an inquiry into the condition of homes in England. The Government has set out plans to deliver a decade of renewal in the provision of social and affordable homes , including a “transformational” and “lasting change in the safety and quality of homes.” Our inquiry will … Show more

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Reports

3 reports
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - Housing Conditions in the Private Rented Sector HC 42 3 Jul 2026 33 Pending
5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temporary Accommodation HC 1831 22 Apr 2026 38 Responded
4th Report – Housing Conditions in the Social Rented Sector HC 1154 9 Feb 2026 21 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
4 Recommendation 5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temp… Rejected

We recommend that the Government set interim targets for the proportion of temporary accommodation that...

We recommend that the Government set interim targets for the proportion of temporary accommodation that is upgraded to comply with the new Decent Homes Standard before the final implementation date in 2035. These should align with interim targets set for the wider private rented sector. (Recommendation, Paragraph 23) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government effectively rejects setting interim targets for upgrading temporary accommodation to the new Decent Homes Standard, instead reiterating existing standards and commitments to apply the reformed standard and publish guidance by the end of 2026.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
14 Recommendation 5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temp… Rejected

We reiterate our earlier recommendation that the ministry must amend the definition of B&B accommodation...

We reiterate our earlier recommendation that the ministry must amend the definition of B&B accommodation in the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2003 to restrict the placement of families in other types of accommodation with shared facilities to a maximum of six weeks. (Recommendation, Paragraph 51) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejected amending the B&B definition to restrict all shared-facility accommodation for families to six weeks, stating that some local authority-owned or commissioned shared facilities can be suitable. They will, however, review the use of socially managed hostel accommodation to consider further action to …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
15 Recommendation 5th Report - Housing Conditions in Temp… Rejected

The ministry must require councils to report publicly on the length of time households remain...

The ministry must require councils to report publicly on the length of time households remain in such facilities and justify any decision to keep households in these facilities beyond six-weeks. By the end of this year, the ministry must publish a clear 10-year plan to phase out the use of … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejected publishing a 10-year plan to phase out all shared accommodation for families, stating they lack evidence to support this, but are engaging stakeholders to identify problematic forms. They stated they are already tracking B&B use beyond six weeks and will clarify reporting …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Oral evidence sessions

7 sessions
Date Witnesses
7 Jul 2026 Emma Payne · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Joanna Key · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Matthew Pennycook MP · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government View ↗
14 Apr 2026 Chloe Fletcher · Chartered Institute of Housing, Jennie Daly · Taylor Wimpey, Nigel Cates · The New Homes Ombudsman Service, Richard Smith · National House Building Council, Stephen Teagle · Vistry Group, Steve Turner · Home Builders Federation View ↗
27 Jan 2026 Christa Maciver · Justlife Foundation, Councillor Grace Williams · London Councils, Dr Laura Neilson · Shared Health Foundation, Joe Lane · Office of the Children's Commissioner, Joseph Donohue · Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Matt Downie · Crisis, Paul Kitson · Newham Council, Stephen Philpott · Birmingham City Council View ↗
25 Nov 2025 Ashlea Birch · Manchester City Council, Fiona MacGregor · Regulator of Social Housing, Ian Sanders · Hull City Council, James Wilson · Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Joe Roberts · Cornwall Council, Jonathan Walters · Regulator of Social Housing View ↗
4 Nov 2025 Anny Cullum · ACORN, Ben Beadle · National Residential Landlords Association, Deborah Garvie · Shelter, Dr Jennifer Harris · TDS Charitable Foundation, Kate Markey · Nationwide Foundation, Nye Jones · Generation Rent, Timothy Douglas · Propertymark View ↗
14 Oct 2025 Alistair Smyth · National Housing Federation, Councillor Sarah King · Southwark Council, Craig Moule · Sanctuary, Ian McDermott · G15, Kwajo Tweneboa, Nic Bliss · Stop Social Housing Stigma, Richard Blakeway · Housing Ombudsman Service View ↗
9 Sep 2025 Dr Henry Dawson · Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Helen Garrett · Building Research Establishment, Michael Erhardt · Disability Rights UK, Millie Brown · Centre for Better Ageing, Professor Sir Michael Marmot · Institute for Health Equity View ↗

Who gave evidence

42 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alistair Smyth · Director of Policy and Research National Housing Federation 1
Anny Cullum · Head of Politics ACORN 1
Ashlea Birch · Neighbourhood Manager (Environmental Health, Trad… Manchester City Council 1
Ben Beadle · Chief Executive National Residential Landlords Association 1
Chloe Fletcher · Head of Policy and External Affairs Chartered Institute of Housing 1
Christa Maciver · Director of Campaigns and Social Change Justlife Foundation 1
Councillor Grace Williams · Deputy Chair and Executive Member for Housing and… London Councils 1
Councillor Sarah King · Leader Southwark Council 1
Craig Moule · Group Chief Executive Sanctuary 1
Deborah Garvie · Policy Manager Shelter 1
Dr Henry Dawson · Senior Lecturer in Housing and Public Health, Car… Chartered Institute of Environmental Health 1
Dr Jennifer Harris · Head of Policy, Research and Social Impact TDS Charitable Foundation 1
Dr Laura Neilson · CEO Shared Health Foundation 1
Emma Payne · Director for Social Housing Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Fiona MacGregor · Chief Executive Regulator of Social Housing 1
Helen Garrett · Principal Consultant Building Research Establishment 1
Ian McDermott · Chief Executive of Peabody and Chair G15 1
Ian Sanders · Principal Environmental Health Officer Private Ho… Hull City Council 1
James Wilson · Head of Environment and Sustainability, Environme… Great Yarmouth Borough Council 1
Jennie Daly · Chief Executive Taylor Wimpey 1
Joanna Key · Director General; Regeneration, Housing and Plann… Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Joe Lane · Deputy Director of Projects Office of the Children's Commissioner 1
Joe Roberts · Head of Building Control, Compliance & Housing Qu… Cornwall Council 1
Jonathan Walters · Deputy Chief Executive Regulator of Social Housing 1
Joseph Donohue · Strategic Lead for Homelessness Greater Manchester Combined Authority 1
Kate Markey · Chief Executive Nationwide Foundation 1
Kwajo Tweneboa 1
Matt Downie · Chief Executive Crisis 1
Matthew Pennycook MP · Minister of State (Minister for Housing and Plann… Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Michael Erhardt · Policy Lead Disability Rights UK 1
Millie Brown · Deputy Director for Homes Centre for Better Ageing 1
Nic Bliss · Campaign Director Stop Social Housing Stigma 1
Nigel Cates · Chief Ombudsman The New Homes Ombudsman Service 1
Nye Jones · Head of Campaigns Generation Rent 1
Paul Kitson · Corporate Director of Inclusive Economy, Housing … Newham Council 1
Professor Sir Michael Marmot · Director Institute for Health Equity 1
Richard Blakeway · Housing Ombudsman Housing Ombudsman Service 1
Richard Smith · Head of Standards, Innovation and Research National House Building Council 1
Stephen Philpott · Director of City Housing Solutions & Support Serv… Birmingham City Council 1
Stephen Teagle · CEO of Partnerships and Regeneration Vistry Group 1
Showing 40 of 42.

Correspondence

16 letters
DateDirectionTitle
15 Jul 2026 To cttee Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Building Safety, Fir…
8 Jul 2026 To cttee Letter from Age UK to the Chair dated 16 June 2026 concerning accessibility sta…
17 Jun 2026 To cttee Letter from the National Residential Landlords Association to the Chair dated 1…
17 Jun 2026 To cttee Letter from the Nationwide Foundation to the Chair dated 11 November 2025 conce…
22 May 2026 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning dated 2…
19 May 2026 To cttee Letter from the Home Builders Federation to the Chair dated 1 May 2026 concerni…
26 Feb 2026 To cttee Letter from the Regulator of Social Housing to the Chair dated 23 February 2026…
14 Jan 2026 To cttee Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 7…
14 Jan 2026 To cttee Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 9…
3 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from TDS Charitable Foundation to the Chair dated 24 November 2025 conce…
27 Nov 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning dated 2…
20 Nov 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning dated 2…
12 Nov 2025 To cttee Letter from the National Housing Federation to the Chair dated 4 November 2025 …
12 Nov 2025 To cttee Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Chair dated 7…
12 Nov 2025 To cttee Letter from Sanctuary Housing to the Chair dated 4 November following up oral e…
15 Oct 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning dated 1…