Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Not Addressed
Phased rollout of Awaab’s Law mitigates risks of resource diversion and inconsistent application.
Conclusion
We agree with the Government’s decision to rollout Awaab’s Law in phases, focusing on tackling the most dangerous hazards first. There are risks that efforts to comply with these regulations result in providers diverting resources away from the services they provide to more vulnerable tenants. There is also a risk that these regulations are not applied consistently across the sector. A phased rollout may help mitigate such risks. (Conclusion, Paragraph 30)
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on the new Fuel Poverty Strategy, energy affordability, and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for social housing, but doesn't address the risks of diverting resources or inconsistent application of Awaab's Law.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
18. The government has published a new Fuel Poverty Strategy for England which sets out our plan to lift up to a million households out of fuel poverty. The new fuel poverty strategy places a stronger emphasis on energy affordability with a new affordability indicator. 19. Fuel poverty is the issue of low-income households who are unable to keep warm at a reasonable cost. In England, we measure progress to the fuel poverty target using the Low-Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) metric. As LILEE is a measure of the number of homes below the fuel poverty target level this will be retained as the most effective measure of progress to 2030. 20. We recognise, however, that for too long households across England have paid the price for our nation’s energy insecurity and energy bills remain too high. Many low-income households still need short term support, and some, especially those with high energy needs, such as disabled or medically dependent members, will always require additional protections. This new strategy therefore places a stronger emphasis on energy affordability. To do this we have developed a new affordability indicator, which will monitor the impact of energy affordability for all households and low-income households. 21. We will report annually on average (median) required energy costs as a proportion of household income (after housing costs) in the fuel poverty statistics. We will also continue to report on the number of households spending more than 10 per cent of their income after housing costs on the energy they need to heat their home. 22. New Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for social housing will allow social housing providers the freedom to choose which new style EPC metrics, from the choice of fabric, smart technology and heating system, to use to comply with the standard. This will allow providers to choose the measures that will be most suitable for their properties and deliver the biggest benefits to tenants in bill savings.