Select committee: Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Conclusion 15
4th Report – Housing Conditions in the Social Rented Sector
Published 9 Feb 2026
Addressed to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Housing Conditions in England All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
While we welcome the steps the Government has taken to rebuild the sector’s financial capacity, a lot of the extra rental income social landlords receive could be absorbed by the new compliance costs placed on them, thereby limiting their ability to invest in new social homes. Even with the Government’s investment in social homes and the changes to the rent settlement, we concerned that the sector will not have sufficient resources to effectively meet the Government’s new social homes target while also raising standards over the decade. (Conclusion, Paragraph 63) 47
From: Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, 4th Report – Housing Conditions in the Social Rented Sector (HC 1154), 9 February 2026
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 28 April 2026 (deadline 9 April 2026).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government sets out its five-step plan for a "decade of renewal" in response to the nine recommendations, and on several points (such as interim Decent Homes targets and a periodic review of the standard) points to existing or planned measures rather than adopting the proposal as framed.
- On the Long-Term Housing Strategy, the government says it will publish it "shortly". It confirms a 10-year, £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme.
- On Awaab's Law, the government gives no timeline for extending it. It says it is undertaking a "test and learn approach before extending the requirements to other hazards" and will develop guidance for phases 2 and 3.
- On reviewing the Decent Homes Standard, the government "recognise[s] that expectations change so there will come a point where a review of the standard is necessary", but sets no 10-year cycle. Landlords have until 2035 to meet the modernised standard.
- On fuel poverty, the government retains the LILEE metric "as the most effective measure of progress to 2030" and introduces a new affordability indicator.