Parliamentary committee warns that ageing social housing stock risks achieving targets for new supply, as progress on decent homes stalls

Decency in social housing has barely improved since the pandemic, with around 430,000 homes failing the Decent Homes Standard (DHS), according to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee report published last Monday. Despite news reporting on the headline of stalled progress, the report itself acknowledges higher decency in social housing than private rented housing and outlines the systemic challenges for providers. The first challenge listed is maintaining some of the oldest stock in Europe. NHC estimates that across the North, where homes are disproportionately older and colder, there are 100,000 social homes that are nearing the end of their serviceable life.

While some homes can be refurbished, the committee raises concerns that meeting new regulatory requirements will limit sector investment in new homes, and that targets for new social housing will be missed. Warning that “a lot of social housing has reached, or is shortly approaching, the end of its intended lifespan”, the report flags the risk that disposals may increase. The Committee calls for an assessment of the cumulative impact of new regulatory requirements on the supply of social homes over the next decade, and also calls for a single housing quality framework, consolidating all social housing regulatory requirements, with a single pooled fund that can be used more flexibly.

NHC has shaped the committee’s findings through the Lessons from Last Time report on the last Decent Homes Programme, influencing the recommendations for a more holistic programme, housing partnerships and procurement consortia. The report also draws on the Fabian Society’s research ‘Home Comforts’ – developed with support from the NHC – which makes the case for a decade of dedicated estate regeneration funding.

The report makes recommendations on the implementation of DHS, MEES and Awaab’s Law. A recent NHC member briefing summarises the latest UK Government policy announcements on these regulatory changes last month. Over the past few years, the NHC has worked with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of its Sounding Board, ensuring members views were heard at each stage. We also worked with members and submitted a response to the formal consultation on the updated Decent Homes Standard.

Some of the Select Committee report’s issues relate to NHC’s ongoing RENEW inquiry, which is currently calling for evidence to help communicate to political decision-makers the challenges of funding housing-led regeneration, as well as the benefits to local communities.