New research from the Fabian Society about housing quality

The Fabian Society has launched Home Comforts: a plan to eradicate poor quality rented accommodation. The research showed that half a million children live in ‘non-decent’ private rented homes in England and there is a north-south divide. In the North 27 per cent of private rented homes are ‘non-decent’ compared to 17 per cent in the South.

The Northern Housing Consortium has supported this independent research, because the quality of existing homes is a critical issue for the North and is something we have long campaigned on.

The North has more than its share of older, colder homes and, as this research shows, the private rented sector is in a particularly poor state. Our recent  Northern Housing Monitor report showed this is increasingly where people and families on lower incomes are living because of the chronic shortage of social housing.

Executive Director of Policy and Policy and Public Affairs Patrick Murray said: “We were happy to support the Fabian Society in their project as there is a need for new ideas about how longstanding quality issues can be tackled. It will offer the opportunity to engage with politicians and make sure that quality and regeneration are at the top of the Government’s agenda, alongside building new homes.

“The report discusses a range of approaches for improving the quality of rented homes. We support the recommendation for housing replacement and regeneration funding. This is essential to create homes that are fit for the future and support thriving communities across the North.

“It echoes our calls for a refreshed decent homes standard to be applied to all rented homes and for councils to more tightly regulate the private rented sector, with new powers and funding to support this. It also found that the certainty of a ten-year rent settlement, something the NHC and other sector bodies are campaigning on, would help social housing providers plan investment in their homes.”

You can read the full report here.