Our response to the Better Social Housing Review

Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation says:

“Housing associations accept in their entirety the recommendations from the Better Social Housing Review, commissioned by us and the Chartered Institute of Housing six months ago. 

“At our core, housing associations exist to provide safe, good quality homes. This commitment was clear in the conversations the panel carried out with residents, housing association staff and stakeholders during the review. 

“But elsewhere the report is undoubtedly not an easy read. There are very serious issues with the quality of some social homes and the report asks housing associations to make sure they are prioritising the needs of their tenants at all times.

“We will develop a thorough nationwide action plan which will set out how housing associations will respond systematically to all the recommendations. This begins with checking every single housing association home to make sure we know where problems exist, like damp and mould, and fix them.   

“Housing associations will also work with tenants and partners to set a clear standard for excellent repairs and maintenance services that everyone living in a housing association home can expect.

“I hope these swift and far-reaching actions reflect the gravity with which we take these findings and our residents’ experiences. Thank you to the independent panel for carrying out such a thorough review.”

Gavin Smart, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing says:

“All tenants of social housing should live in good quality, well-managed homes and always be treated with dignity and respect. Where this is not the case, we must work quickly to put that right, so I welcome the findings and recommendations set out by the Better Social Housing Review panel which provide a practical framework for the sector.

“As the professional body for housing, we are committed to working with our members and the National Housing Federation to develop an action plan focusing on the recommendations outlined by the panel. The increased focus on consumer regulation and professionalism, set out in the Social Housing Regulation Bill, will help to underpin this.

“I’m grateful to the panel for the time they have taken to engage with residents, communities, partners, and housing professionals to understand where improvements are needed, to highlight good practice and to make recommendations that will help the sector move forward.”