Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
4th Report – Housing Conditions in the Social Rented Sector
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
HC 1154
Published 9 February 2026
Recommendations
5
Acknowledged
Provide clear roadmap and guidance for the remaining phases of Awaab's Law.
Recommendation
Even though social landlords have been anticipating the introduction of Awaab’s Law for some time, the way the Government managed the introduction of Phase 1 unnecessarily added to the uncertainty and complexity providers had to grapple with to ensure they …
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Government Response Summary
The government responded to its consultation on an updated Decent Homes Standard, designed to meet modern expectations of housing quality and provides certainty to plan and spread costs long-term with a deadline of 2035.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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8
Acknowledged
Urgently provide clarity on funding for social housing retrofit improvements.
Recommendation
The Government needs to urgently provide the sector with clarity on the funding that will be available over the remainder of this Parliament to help providers deliver the necessary improvements. (Recommendation, Paragraph 40)
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Regulator of Social Housing has introduced a new consumer regulation regime and is committed to developing detailed guidance on the revised Decent Homes Standard, but provides no specific details on funding.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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12
Acknowledged
Introduce a process to periodically review and update the Decent Homes Standard
Recommendation
The Government must introduce a process to periodically review and, if necessary, update the Decent Homes Standard at least every 10 years to ensure it reflects the changing needs of the population, environmental pressures, scientific evidence of the hazards to …
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Government Response Summary
The government responded to its consultation on an updated Decent Homes Standard, designed to meet modern expectations of housing quality and provides certainty to plan and spread costs long-term with a deadline of 2035.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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21
Acknowledged
Set out timeframe for statutory New Homes Ombudsman and mandatory consumer code
Recommendation
In response to this report, the Government must set out the timeframe for creating a statutory, UK-wide New Homes Ombudsman and the details of the mandatory consumer code developers will need to abide by. (Recommendation, Paragraph 77) 49
Government Response Summary
The government remains committed to implementing a statutory New Homes Ombudsman scheme, but provides no timeframe or details of the consumer code.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Conclusions (2)
7
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Progress at retrofitting social homes needs to accelerate if the sector is going to upgrade the remaining homes up to the required standard by 2030. The Government has not yet provided sufficient clarity to the sector on the funding available for retrofits over the Parliament. (Conclusion, Paragraph 39)
Government Response Summary
The government states it is focused on delivering transformational change and rebuilding financial capacity, but does not specifically address the lack of clarity on retrofit funding.
18
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The steps the Government is taking to rebuild the sector’s financial capacity to invest in new and existing homes will help providers to meet new regulatory standards. However, we are concerned that supply chain constraints, workforce shortages and the limited uptake of technologies will mean that providers may not have …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for a skilled supply chain and is working with the industry to provide training opportunities and build a diverse workforce, but provides no specific commitments.