7 Shocking Facts about Social Housing Every Would-Be Tenant Should Know
It came out in 2020, over 1 million households are relying on social housing to provide them affordable, safe, and decent homes
30/07/2021
Housing issues are a major concern in the United Kingdom, particularly those that involve council or social housing. It is a serious matter because according to reports that came out in 2020, over 1 million households are relying on social housing to provide them affordable, safe, and decent homes. A shortage in the available homes has put these residents on the waiting list for many years now warns
Graf Property Management company.
The problems in
social housing do not stop with the limited
availability of affordable homes. For many who
are already in a rented home, the most vital
issue is their squalid living conditions. Some
housing associations and
landlords do not take
their tenants’ complaints and requests
seriously. Many of them completely ignore
renters who ask for help in addressing disrepair
in home issues, the most common of which are
damp and mould.
Many tenants are also
unaware of, or do not understand, their rights,
and this is a significant factor in the current
social housing crisis. If renters know what to
do when their landlord is
ignoring repair
requests, many homes will be safe and liveable.
What you should know about social housing
You may have read about council and social housing issues in various online sources and news reports. You may have seen these reports on TV as well. But there are other important and specific facts that you need to know, especially if you plan to use social housing services or already own a home in one of their properties.
1. Over 520,000 social homes in England are below the national Decent Homes Standard.
The Decent Homes Standard is a UK government technical-initiated standard for public housing. Its goal is to set a minimum standard specifically for housing conditions under housing associations and council housing. According to the Standard’s criteria, a decent home:
•
• is equipped with modern services and facilities
• has efficient and sufficient insulation and heating
• must not have serious threats against the health and safety of its residents
is in a reasonable state of repair
As damp and mould, inefficient heating systems, faulty wiring and electrical systems are common issues in social housing, many of these are not up to par with the government’s safe and decent homes standards.
2. More than 200,000 social housing homes fall under the highest risk category in terms of safety hazards.
A Category 1 hazard is the classification
given to living conditions that exhibit
immediate and severe risks to a resident’s
safety and health. Some examples include
overloaded electricity sockets, leaking roofs,
faulty boilers, broken doors and locks, and
vermin infestation.
These are common
disrepair issues, but many landlords and social
housing authorities often take tenants’
complaints about these problems for granted and
completely ignore them.
3. Social housing can cause mental health problems in many residents.
Aside from their stressful and unhealthy
living conditions, social housing tenants can
also face mental health issues. The appalling
condition of their homes and dealing with the
health risks that come with it affect the mental
health of tenants. Many of them develop anxiety,
especially those with young families.
When they do not know how to get the advice and
the solution they need, many people get confused
and anxious.
4. Many residents under 35 live in rented homes that are hazardous for them.
There are 338,000 social homes that are rented by residents below 35 years of age. These homes are ideal for young adults because they are affordable. So, even if their living conditions can be extremely dangerous, they stay put because they do not have the financial means to move to better homes, such as the ones rented out by private landlords.
5. There are over 360,000 homes in England that are in substantial disrepair.
Social homes that are covered with damp
spots, have poor ventilation, leaks, and
wallpaper sheets that are peeling off are
described as being in substantial disrepair.
These are more than just your regular disrepair
in home issues; these can slowly turn into
severe problems that may compromise tenants’
health and safety.
This is a common
situation in England and has in fact affected
around 360,000 homes.
6. In 2020, as the country went into lockdown with the rest of the world, depression was common in many homes.
The poor housing conditions in the UK have
resulted in overcrowded homes, temporary
accommodations, and neglected disrepair
problems.
Many tenants have had to force
themselves to stay home during the lockdown
despite all the damp and mould surrounding their
home. Those who are sharing their homes with
others have restricted movement.
Around
11% of adult tenants went through depression
during the lockdown because of squalid housing
conditions.
7. Almost 50% of tenants who reported housing disrepair issues were ignored.
Tenants are diligent when it comes to reporting damp and mould, and any other issues related to housing disrepair.
If your home is in disrepair
If you do not want to add to the statistics, find out everything you can about a housing disrepair claim. Talk to the disrepair experts at disrepairclaim.co.uk and they’ll help you understand your rights.