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Editor’s comment


Will Michael Gove leave a positive housing legacy despite his short term in offi ce?


Patrick Mooney, News Editor


T e housing world has got used to the merry-go-round of ministerial appointments but even the most seasoned professionals were taken aback by the wholescale changes precipated by the Conservative Party’s leadership crisis. At one point there was only one housing ministerial post fi lled as a result of resignations and the spectacular sacking of Michael Gove as the secretary of state. His departure had nothing to do with his performance in the job, nor for any policy diff erences with his boss, the Prime Minister.


But an awful lot of housing people were genuinely sorry to see Mr Gove depart aſt er just 10 months in post. Irrespective of politics, there was a sense that here was a heavy hitter who was breaking the log jams in a number of key areas and getting on with getting things done! Policy and legislative blockages were being successfully navigated and for the fi rst time in a number of years it looked like the person in the top job in housing was setting a clear course for at least the next few years. He was eff ective at his job and not prepared to allow builders to shirk their cladding removal responsibilities.


With Mr Gove’s sudden and unexpected departure we are now leſt wondering how much of his To Do list will survive. His replacement in Greg Clarke is seen more as a steady pair of hands, who previously held the housing portfolio in cabinet for a year under T eresa May. But whether he survives the election of a new Prime Minister only time will tell. At least we probably won’t have to wait very long to fi nd out!


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One other concern that emerged during the Conservative’s leadership contest was the challenge made by several candidates to the targets set for removing carbon from our homes and how this will be paid for. Abandoning our Net Zero target became a clarion call, without it seemed, any understanding of how disruptive and far reaching such changes would have. One of the most eff ective measures we are already taking to reduce our carbon emissions, is improving the insulation of our homes – albeit not quickly enough. Insulation helps to prevent heat leaking out of our homes and should reduce our use of energy for heating, washing and cooking. During the deepest cost of living crisis in decades with even worse news expected soon on the energy cap increase this Autumn, it is bewildering that politicians running for the highest offi ce in the land can undermine such eff orts.


Only a few miles south of Westminster, changes are taking place in Croydon Council. T is was the scene of one of the fi rst housing disrepair reports from ITN News early last year and the terrible conditions that were exposed shocked the nation. Sadly further reports of failing services emerged in the following weeks and months at both councils and housing associations. For the last year people working in the social housing sector have been asking how such things could have happened. Croydon Council is completely reshaping how its repairs service is delivered and is consulting its tenants on a new Residents Charter. I wish them all the luck in making positive and tangible changes, T eir tenants deserve better.


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Printed in England Revisiting fi re safety


Following on from last year’s study, our latest research aims to fi nd out if the sector has improved when it comes to fi re safety. See report inside


See page 40 HMM0809_2022 Covers.indd 1 11/08/2022 15:15 4 | HMM August/September 2022 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


But of course for such changes to stand a chance of succeeding, the culture within the housing service needs to be pro- tenant and accountable, it also needs proper levels of resource being invested in it with staff given the tools they require and a confi dence to act when they see things are not going right. T e Housing Ombudsman is dealing with record levels of work and it is clear that the regulatory system of the past 12 years or so has failed to deliver modern and eff ective services. A White Paper focusing on how social housing services will be improved was launched just a few weeks before Mr Gove was sacked. Given the length of time it took between the Grenfell Tower fi re and the publication of the proposed legislation, it is important that the momentum is not lost. I will be keeping a close eye on the new Secretary of State, as I am sure many others will be, to ensure the new law is delivered in the very near future.


HOUSING MANAGEMENT


& MAINTENANCE AUG/SEP 2022


Patrick Mooney


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On the cover...


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