HALF OF ALL COUNCIL HOUSING IN LONDON NOT 'DECENT'

12.59.47pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 16th Jun 2005

London Assembly Liberal Democrats will today highlight that the Government is set to miss its target to make sure all Local Authority housing in London is up to the Decent Home Standard by two decades.

New figures released by the Lib Dems show that only half of all Local Authority housing in London meets up to the Government's Decent Homes criteria. The number of homes up to standard has crept up by just 4% in the last two years. If this current trend continues it will take a further 25 years before all Local Authority can be classified as 'liveable'.

In 2000, Ministers set a target for all Local Authority Housing to meet the Decent Homes Standard by 2010. However, in London it's likely to take until 2030 before all Council owned housing meets the Decent Homes Standard'.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly housing spokesperson, Dee Doocey, said:-

"It is shocking that nearly a quarter of million publicly-owned properties in London are not fit to be called a home. Local authority housing exists to help the most vulnerable needy families in the capital. That half of this stock is sub-standard and in poor repair is an absolute disgrace.

"To wait another 25 years for Local Authority housing to be up to scratch is simply unacceptable. Ministers must show they are serious about improving living conditions by backing up their pledge with the proper resources rather than passing the buck and the bill to local authorities.

"Ensuring the poorest sections of the community have a decent standard of living with an adequate roof over their heads should be a top priority and not left as yet another headline grabbing gimmick with no substance."

ENDS

Notes to editor

According to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister:-

"In 2000, the government made a commitment to bring all public sector homes up to a decent standard, establishing a 10 year target and an interim target to:

"ensure that all social housing meets set standards of decency by 2010, by reducing the number of households living in social housing that does not meet these standards by a third between 2001 and 2004, with most of the improvement taking place in the most deprived local authority areas.

In brief, a decent home will pass four tests:

1. it must meet the current statutory minimum standard for housing

2. it must be in a reasonable state of repair

3. it must have reasonably modern facilities and services

4. it must provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort

There was a change in how the fourth test will be measured, announced in February 2002. Property will now have to have effective insulation and efficient heating to meet this criterion."

http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_602095.hcsp

http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_602084.hcsp

Decent Homes

Question No: 909 / 2005

Dee Doocey

What proportion of social homes in London meet the Government's decent homes standard? Please provide both sets of figures for the past four years.

It is not clear what you mean by 'both sets of figures', but the assumption is that this refers to the split between local authority (LA) stock and registered social landlord (RSL) stock. Figures for 1st April 2005 are not yet available, but the previous four years show:

Year & tenure Total stock Of which decent

1/4/04 LA 482,835 242,293 (50%)

RSL 310,433 257,659 (83%)

1/4/03 LA 499,705 230,878 (46%)

RSL 305,804 250,759 (82%)

1/4/02 LA 515,975 235,800 (46%)

RSL 302,937 Not available

1/4/01 LA 530,015 Not available

RSL 291,910 Not available

Sources: London Borough Housing Statistical Returns and Business Plans; ODPM Housing Statistics website; RSL returns to Housing Corporation.