The Better Social Housing Review has published its final report containing seven key recommendations to improve the social housing sector in England. Steve Coffey, Torus Group CEO, welcomes the findings which “help to demonstrate the sector’s commitment to learning and to making positive change.”

Led by an independent panel, the review aims to address the inadequate quality of some social housing and the unacceptable conditions too many tenants are experiencing.

Serious concerns

The report raises a number of serious concerns that continue to dominate discussion about social housing. The report includes a key focus on how to address systemic issues including disadvantages still being faced by black and minority ethnic communities in particular as well as maintenance issues like damp and mould and the handling of complaints.

The review was set up by The National Housing Federation and Chartered Institute of Housing. The Better Social Housing Review’s key recommendations are as follows:

1. Every housing association, and the sector, should refocus on their core purpose and deliver against it.
2. Housing associations should work together to conduct and publish a thorough audit of all social housing in England.
3. Housing associations should partner with tenants, contractors, and frontline staff to develop and apply new standards defining what an excellent maintenance and repairs process looks like.
4. The Chartered Institute of Housing should promote the traditional housing officer role as a supported and valued employment opportunity with a Chartered Institute of Housing recognised programme of training and continuing development.
5. Housing associations should work with all tenants to ensure that they have a voice and influence at every level of decision making across the organisation, through both voluntary and paid roles.
6. Housing associations should develop a proactive local community presence through community hubs which foster greater multi-agency working.
7. Housing associations should support tenants and frontline staff to undertake an annual review of the progress each organisation is making in implementing this review’s recommendations.

The full report can be found here.

Valued partners

Helen Baker, Chair of the Better Social Housing Review, said:

“The shockingly poor quality of some social housing has been in the spotlight recently and our review supports the need for urgent, sector-level action to address the issues. We would like to see our recommendations built into sector-wide, as well as organisation-specific, plans within six months.

“The power imbalance between tenants and housing providers remains one of the biggest problems facing the sector, perpetuating rather than dismantling the societal stigma and discrimination experienced by people living in social housing. This is particularly true for those from black and minority ethnic communities.

“Tenants must be recognised as valued partners in the delivery of the sector’s purpose – this is the key to unlocking an equitable and socially just way forward. Housing associations need to go back to basics, reviewing their core purpose and reassessing the systems and beliefs at the very heart of their operations. A framework of national standards should underpin all this work and will be crucial to ensuring the quality of both homes and services.

“The government, for its part, must fully accept its responsibilities for the provision of decent safe and secure housing for all its citizens, as it has always done for health and education.”

Commitment

Steve Coffey, Torus Group CEO and Chair of Homes for the North, said:

“I would like to thank the wide range of individuals and organisations involved in producing this report which helps to demonstrate the sector’s commitment to learning and to making positive change.

“There is no doubt the report findings, which come from a strong position of credibility and independence, will help the sector to step closer towards rebuilding trust with tenants, partners and stakeholders who have been deeply concerned by the media coverage they have seen in recent months. These findings also align with a lot of the work we have already undertaken within our communities to address these problems.

“Moving forward, we will be working with The National Housing Federation, Chartered Institute of Housing, our partners and tenants to take the recommendations provided to help develop the sector-wide action plan mentioned with a view to doing our part in improving social housing in all communities.”

More information about The Better Social Housing Review can be found here.