MPs urge government to bring forward long-term strategy to improve social housing conditions

The government did not agree to these recommendations and referred the HCLG Committee to the Regulator of Social Housing’s (RSH) consumer regime.

It also said it is committed to developing detailed guidance on the revised DHS, Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and further implementation of Awaab’s Law.

In response to the committee’s call to set out the long-awaited housing strategy as soon as possible, the government said it plans to publish the strategy “shortly”.

The committee had also urged the government to put in place interim targets stipulating the percentage of social homes that should be upgraded to the revised DHS each year before the final 2035 implementation date.

Responding to this recommendation, the government said it will “agree a compact” with sector bodies, including the National Housing Federation and the Local Government Association, in the coming weeks.

This compact will then be overseen by a taskforce that comprises sector leaders, as announced in January.

The government also said the RSH is developing its own approach “to seeking assurance from landlords that they are appropriately preparing” for the revised DHS.

Florence Eshalomi, chair of the HCLG Committee, said in response that it is “unacceptable that almost 430,000 social homes still fail to meet even basic housing standards”.

She continued: “It’s crucial that government measures, including Awaab’s Law and the new Decent Homes Standard, bring a meaningful improvement to social housing conditions. 

“The government’s response to our social housing report highlights a series of areas where clearer timelines and further detail is needed on the action to improve social housing conditions.  

“The government needs to push ahead with their long-term housing strategy as soon as possible and set out a credible plan both for the regeneration of existing housing stock and the building of the new social homes the country needs.”