Government announces review of social housing services

A review on social housing staff qualifications and professional training has been announced by the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing to ensure staff are better equipped to support tenants, deal with complaints, and make sure homes are good quality.

The Social Housing White Paper Professionalism Review will explore the qualifications currently available for staff, with residents, landlords 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 urging social housing residents to come forward and talk about their experience dealing with social housing staff and changes they would like to see.

The review comes after thousands of social housing residents told the government following the Grenfell tragedy that they felt their landlords were failing to treat them with courtesy and respect.

It also follows the latest English Housing Survey report, which shows that more than 59% 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% increase in complaints in the past year.

Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing Eddie Hughes MP 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.’

Chartered Institute for Housing CEO Gavin Smart added: ‘As the professional body for housing, CIH is delighted to be involved with DLUHC’s Professionalisation Review. Home is the foundation on which we all build our lives, our experience during the Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced just how important home is.

‘We are pleased to have the opportunity to take part in the review to help make sure that housing professionals have the right tools to deliver good quality homes and services with people at the heart.’

In related news, Climate Change Minister Julie James has announced her intention to implement the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 in six months, changing how homes are rented in Wales.

Photo by Ray Harrington