Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Paragraph: 115
The guidance that the Government has produced for those in overcrowded housing is substandard.
Recommendation
The guidance that the Government has produced for those in overcrowded housing is substandard. There was no clear guidance in one place from the Government on how to overcome the practical challenges of living in overcrowded, and in some cases multigenerational, accommodation. This continues to be the case nine months after the country first entered lockdown. We recommend that the Government should, within the next four weeks, publish clear, culturally competent guidance with practical recommendations on how to self-isolate for people living in overcrowded, and/or multi- generational, accommodation. The Government should liaise with BAME groups on how to cascade this guidance. We further recommend that the Government by the end of summer 2021 produce a strategy to reduce overcrowding due to its poor health impacts.
Paragraph Reference:
115
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Minister for Equalities’ report of 22 October recommended that more emphasis be placed on the promotion of existing NHS guidance on minimising transmission within households, sharing these messages widely and in the range of languages and formats needed. Since then, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has been working closely with the Cabinet Office and Public Health England to ensure government guidance and communications to households is in line with the latest evidence and is reaching those who need it most. In particular, the National Lockdown: Stay at Home guidance on gov.uk13 was updated in January with practical steps on how to reduce the chance of catching or spreading the virus within households. Importantly, this guidance explains both what steps should be taken to stay safe, and also why these steps work. This is a key driver in supporting people to follow the guidance. 13 National Lockdown: Stay at Home Guidance As noted above, on 28 January PHE updated its guidance to households with grandparents, parents and children living together where someone is at increased risk of COVID-19 infection. And on 2 February, PHE published new guidance on ‘How to stop the spread of coronavirus’, with more detail on how to stay safe in the home. This follows on from MHCLG issuing updated guidance for tenants, landlords and local authorities on reducing in-household transmission of COVID-19 in December. Further streamlined guidance on reducing the risk of infection in shared and/or overcrowded accommodation is due to be published shortly by MHCLG. The government is communicating the latest PHE guidance on ‘How to Stop the Spread of Coronavirus’ through key stakeholders in local communities as well as via MHCLG channels to ensure those living in this type of accommodation are made aware of and fully understand the new guidance. This guidance is currently being translated into a range of languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), French, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi and Urdu. A housing strategy to reduce overcrowding The government recognises the Committee’s findings on overcrowding, but does not accept the recommendation. The work already underway will help bolster our evidence and support those in overcrowded conditions. The government’s strategy to increase supply and improve affordability is crucial to addressing overcrowding issues. We delivered 244,000 homes in 2019/20—the highest figure for 33 years. The government is investing over £12bn in affordable housing over 5 years, the largest investment in affordable housing in a decade. This includes the new £11.5bn Affordable Homes Programme, which will provide up to 180,000 new homes across the country, should economic conditions allow. The government has also brought forward proposals to simplify the planning system, make the best use of surplus public sector land, and invest in infrastructure to unlock sites for the supply of new homes. The government has also taken steps to tackle the issues faced by those living in overcrowded conditions by giving local authorities duties and enforcement powers, introducing the Homes Fitness for Human Habitation Act, providing allocation preferences and additional preferences for social housing where households are overcrowded, clarifying minimum room sizes in houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), introducing a national home swap scheme (HomeSwap Direct) and by providing guidance in line with the latest evidence on COVID-19 to support households. Alongside this, we have initiated our two-year review of the Housing, Health and Safety Rating system (HHSRS), the tool used to assess hazardous conditions in residential properties. This review will prioritise work around overcrowding and other health related issues including indoor air quality. The government believes the most appropriate course of action is to continue with the comprehensive review that is already underway before embarking on a new review. The review of the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) announced in the Social Housing White Paper also represents the commitment we have made to drive up standards. MHCLG expects to publish the first part of the review considering the case for change in Autumn 2021.