The UK government has announced new reforms and funding to support outcomes for tenants in the social housing and private rental sectors.
New measures unveiled by the housing secretary yesterday will give councils, housing associations, and other providers greater financial support to ramp up construction of new homes. This will deliver on government plans to bring down record-high numbers of families and children stuck in temporary accommodation or on housing waiting lists.
Landlords will also have to meet robust standards to provide homes that are free of disrepair and damp, warm and energy efficient homes through a new Decent Homes Standard (DHS), updating decency standards for the first time in 20 years. This is on top of new requirements to upgrade properties under new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards that could save social tenants hundreds of pounds every year on their energy bills.
The latest update comes ahead of bidding opening next month for the historic £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP), ensuring every single penny is spent effectively to accelerate social and affordable housebuilding at scale – and this builds on the Housing Secretary’s ‘rallying cry’ to provide hundreds of thousands of affordable homes for families priced out of homeownership.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “Every new social home means one less family stuck on a housing waiting list. Building more social housing is crucial to fixing the housing crisis for good.
“But that’s only part of the story. We’re also driving up the quality of social housing so they’re well insulated and damp-free to keep families safe and cut their energy bills in the years ahead.
“I’m calling on everyone who has a part to play to build, baby, build.”
RICS says it welcomes the renewed commitment to improve the quality of social and private rented homes.
Delivering the government’s ambition to both address the quality of existing homes and to support much need new housing, will require chartered surveyors and professionals across the sector, according to RICS CEO, Justin Young.
He said: “RICS is developing a stock condition survey code of practice – comprehensive guidance to assist the social housing sector to continue to raise housing standards through stock condition surveys.
“This is alongside a new RICS retrofit pilot pathway to equip surveyors with the skills to support the Government’s energy efficiency efforts.
“We will continue to work with MHCLG as it accelerates its mission to unlock high quality, safe and affordable homes across the country.”
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