Government to drive up standards in social housing

Eddie Hughes has confirmed that social housing residents will be better protected as part of a review to ensure they are listened to.

The review on qualifications and professional training will drive up standards by making sure social housing staff are better equipped to support tenants, deal effectively with complaints, and make sure homes are good quality.

The Social Housing White Paper Professionalisation Review will explore the qualifications currently available for staff, with landlords, residents and trade bodies putting forward recommendations to the government. It will also consider if additional training is required to improve the service to residents.

The government is now urging social housing residents to come forward and have their say in the review and talk about their experience dealing with social housing staff.

Te latest English Housing Survey report shows that more than 59 per cent of social housing residents who complained were not happy with the response to their complaint. At the same time the Housing Ombudsman has seen a 139 per cent increase in complaints in the past year.

Eddie Hughes, the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, said: “Too many social housing residents have told me they feel like they are not listened to or treated with respect – raising complaints time and time again only for the problems not to be fixed. This needs to stop. This review announced today will drive up the standard of services received by residents, making sure their concerns are taken seriously and they have somewhere safe to live. The review is a key element of our Social Housing White Paper, which is bringing forward wide-ranging improvements for tenants.”