The need for better quality housing

While the UK has faced a significant housing shortage for many years, the housing crisis is at an all-time high. The market, as it currently stands, empowers landlords to charge high rents in exchange for an appalling standards of housing. This desperate situation is exacerbated by a gap in legislation and incentives to improve the quality of existing housing for tenants. 

Letting agencies are complacent in maintaining poor standards. They tolerate their client landlords in avoiding responsibility to provide a decent home by maintaining adequate energy performance standards for their properties. It is increasingly common for prospective renters to compete in a bidding system vying for low grade properties at extortionate prices to secure a subpar place to live. The blind bidding system requires renters to stretch their finances, forcing them to allocate a significant portion of their income to keeping a roof over their heads.

Making better use of existing buildings

Repurposing existing buildings can be more cost-effective than constructing new developments while providing immediate relief for housing shortages. According to Yield Investing, approximately 261,000 homes across the UK are classified as long term empty. Furthermore, about 700,000 homes in England are unfurnished and standing empty.

Action on Empty Homes analyses the Government data, showing the distribution of empty homes by region. In Brighton and Hove, the number of empty homes increased in the last year by 8% to almost 1,700 homes. Retrofitting these properties can bring them up to a liveable standard, making better use of existing structures and addressing the housing crisis sustainably.

This is supported by recent reports by The United Nations concluding that the UK population is both shrinking and ageing. Forward planning must take into consideration population decline when looking at the need for new housing developments. 

Council housing, housing associations, and providers of temporary accommodation may provide homes that don’t meet decent home standards. Many of these housing providers fail their tenants by insufficiently maintaining their properties or supplying affordable housing. Over the years, BHESCo has visited hundreds of homes where people are living in appalling circumstances with huge remedial barriers because the housing provider pays a private company for the right to let the home. 

A row of disused empty housing in Salford.. Photo by Ian Roberts under Creative Commons Licence

The need for stricter regulations and better incentives

To address the housing crisis effectively, the focus must shift from rapid construction of new homes to the upkeep and retrofitting of existing housing stock, representing the vast majority of properties. Many of our homes date back to the pre-1900s or early 1920s. 

This older housing stock is notorious for inadequate insulation contributing to high heating costs. It seems that many landlords, who may also be impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, are aiming to reduce their maintenance and improvement costs to increase their profits. The deficiency of incentives for retrofitting their properties makes many landlords reluctant to invest in necessary upgrades. 

The lack of adequate legislation, the ease with which landlords can be exempted from penalties, and the dearth of local authority resources to enforce infringement allows this nonconformity to continue, while exacerbating human suffering.

The role of Government in addressing the housing crisis

The government must legislate for more stringent standards that ensure proper levels of thermal efficiency and maintenance of properties; while regulating banks so they offer accessible finance terms that incentivise retrofitting to lower the cost of heating rental properties while improving housing safety. Improving the ability of homes to retain heat supports our national Net Zero target for approximately 35% of domestic properties. 

Stricter regulations, such as a minimum EPC rating of C by 2030, without the investment ceiling are also necessary. Letting agencies must be held accountable for upholding these standards, as poor housing can lead to serious health issues when tenants haven’t got the money to heat their homes sufficiently. Many people who are forced to choose between between heating and eating is faced by those who rent their homes.

Final thoughts - how can we solve the housing crisis?

A digital reporting and tracking system would enhance transparency and accountability by allowing real-time monitoring of property compliance. This online platform could enable property owners and managers to submit documentation, while local authorities could track inspections and violations. Automated alerts and reports would streamline communication and facilitate timely issue resolution. 

The UK’s housing crisis demands urgent action to improve the quality of existing homes. It is imperative that the focus shifts from increasing the housing supply through new developments, which provide profits to the developer, to ensuring current properties are safe, energy-efficient, and well-maintained. This will create value in our existing properties, allowing for a better distribution of benefits. 

Stricter regulations, effective financial support for retrofitting, and stronger community engagement are essential. By prioritising these measures, government and civil society can work together to create a fairer, more humane housing system which meets the needs of all residents by providing affordable decent housing for people who cannot afford to buy their own homes.

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