Housing conditions in England – Housing Committee begins new inquiry looking at the scale of poor housing across the country
On Tuesday morning, the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee begins the evidence sessions for its new inquiry examining housing conditions in England, with questions to witnesses including Sir Michael Marmot, Director, Institute for Health Equity.
Meeting details
The Committee will be looking at the prevalence of hazards, such as damp and mould, in homes across the country, and scrutinising how effective policies to improve housing conditions are likely to be.
The cross-party Committee will also be questioning witnesses including Helen Garratt, National Housing Data and Insights Lead, Building Research Establishment, Dr Henry Dawson, Senior Lecturer in Housing and Public Health, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Millie Brown, Deputy Director for Homes, Centre for Better Ageing, Michael Erhardt, Policy and Campaigns Officer, Disability Rights UK
The opening session of the inquiry focuses on the prevalence and severity of poor housing conditions across all tenures, including social housing and the private rented sector, and the impact of poor housing on people’s health and quality of life.
Ahead of next week’s session, the Committee has published a small selection of written evidence submissions, from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Building Research Establishment (BRE), Centre for Ageing Better, and from The Town and Country Planning Association.
The bulk of written evidence submissions will be published ahead of the next evidence session for this inquiry, which is expected to take place after the conference recess in October.
The Committee’s conditions of homes inquiry (see full terms of reference) will be examining the Government’s Decent Homes Standard, the introduction of ‘Awaab’s law’, and the passage of the Renters Reform Bill, and looking at how far these policies will go to address poor housing conditions in England.
The inquiry will be examining conditions in social housing, the private rented sector, new build homes, and in temporary accommodation.