Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 9
Prioritise disability inclusion and address housing barriers faced by disabled people
Conclusion
Disabled people are not a homogeneous group with a single set of housing needs. Rather, Government policy must seek to address the many barriers which disabled individuals face, which vary widely. Too often too many disabled people are failed by current housing policy. We have been particularly pained to hear of the impact on disabled people’s dignity, health and wellbeing of living in unsuitable accommodation. It is intolerable that many disabled people are living in unsuitable accommodation for years without hope. It is essential that the Government, local authorities, and the housing sector work together to prioritise disability inclusion and address the barriers that disabled people are currently facing.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges that disabled people should not face barriers to suitable accommodation and commits to working with local authorities and the housing sector to address key challenges, stating that ministers will ensure housing policy addresses these needs.
Paragraph Reference:
9
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
6. The Committee refers to the Disability Action Plan published by the previous government on 5 February 2024 and oral evidence from the previous government. This government notes the conclusion of the previous Committee’s inquiry. Disabled people should not face barriers to the safe and suitable accommodation they deserve. This government will work with local authorities and the housing sector to address key challenges encountered by disabled people. Since the General Election, government has sought to engage actively and extensively to ensure that policy is informed by a wide range of views and input. 7. The government has appointed in each department to ensure we break down barriers to opportunity for disabled people right across the government’s long-term missions and put the voices of disabled people at the heart of everything we do. As the lead minister for MHCLG, Rushanara Ali MP, Minister for Homelessness and Democracy, will work with Ministerial colleagues and officials to ensure that the views of disabled people are heard and meaningfully integrated as we develop our long-term housing strategy and wider departmental policies. 8. This government is also committed to implementing the measures in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. These measures will ensure that those living in supported housing receive support that meets the new National Supported Housing Standards, a suitable home for them and an appropriate landlord. In addition, local authorities will complete strategies to assess supply, demand and unmet need in their local areas across all types of supported housing, including for those with disabilities who require supported housing. A consultation on the detail of these reforms was launched on 20 February and will be open for 12 weeks. Delivery of new homes through the current Affordable Homes Programme 2021–26 includes capital grant funding to promote new supply of supported housing. The government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021–26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. Increasing the supply of accessible homes LUHC Select Committee Report conclusion: We welcome the Government’s announcement that it intends to make the M4(2) accessibility standard mandatory for all new build homes. This amendment to building regulations is an important policy change which will greatly increase the availability of accessible homes for disabled people. However, we are deeply concerned that the Department has made little progress towards implementing this policy in practice. Moreover, it is unclear why the Department did not seek to launch the further ‘technical consultation’ soon after its July 2022 announcement of its M4(2) policy change. The delay to implementation continues to afflict the daily lives of thousands of disabled people who are searching for accessible new build homes, while stakeholders from across the sector remain “left in the dark”, with little clarity as to the timeline for implementing the M4(2) policy change. The Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) timeline to run a full technical consultation process for six months, starting on an undecided date between May and July 2024, would make it unlikely that the M4(2) baseline policy could be implemented until spring 2025, at the earliest. This is an excessively long timeline considering the sector’s demand for certainty and the evidence that there is likely to be widespread consensus among responses. It is imperative that the Government’s M4(2) policy commitment is now implemented as soon as possible. If this is not done, thousands of disabled people will continue to be left with their housing needs unmet.