Industry News


New quality standard being introduced for all social homes in Wales


T


he Welsh Government has launched a consultation on updating the social housing quality standard, with a specific aim of


delivering on improving energy efficiency and helping to achieve net zero carbon emission targets. Climate Change Minister Julie James said the


new standard would build upon the achievements of its predecessor, which was introduced in 2002 and by the end of 2020 had brought 99 per cent of social housing in Wales upto the existing decent homes standard. Te new standard is due to be introduced next


year and is planned to be achieved by 2033. Te consultation exercise closes in early August. More than 900 tenants, as well as technical experts and social housing professionals, have been involved in drawing up the proposals. Te aim of the new standard is to deliver


homes that are in a good state of repair, is safe and secure, is affordable to heat and has minimal environmental impact, has an up-to-date kitchen, utility area and bathroom, is comfortable and promotes wellbeing, has a suitable garden and an attractive outside space. Speaking in the Senedd Ms James said: “I am sure


members will agree that, aſter 20 years, the standard is due to be reviewed, especially to acknowledge the considerable changes to how people live, work and feel about their homes. “Te world has moved on apace in the last 20


years and our expectation of our homes has moved on too. Te proposed standard aims to be bold but ultimately achievable. We aim with our consultation to ensure that the voice of the sector is taken into


Climate Change Minister Julie James said the new standard would build upon the achievements of its predecessor, which was introduced in 2002 and by the end of 2020 had brought 99 per cent of social housing in Wales upto the existing decent homes standard


account in finalising these standards and getting them right. “Setting standards is not an easy business at the


best of times. It is even more challenging setting standards relating to the decarbonisation of homes - which is a developing area where we are learning what works best on an ongoing basis. Ms James, added that the £220m committed over


this term of Government to the Optimised Retrofit Programme, aimed at to decarbonising existing homes will help. It will provide some of the answers to how effectively and efficiently carbon emissions


from homes will be reduced in line with the Net Zero Wales plan. However, in the face of the climate change emergency she said it was not possible to stand still, and the Government must continue to push progress and set standards to address decarbonisation through a variety of measures in existing social housing. Lessons learnt from working on the 230,000


social homes in Wales will then be applied to how improvements can be delivered to the 1.2 million homes in private ownership, including private rentals.


Sefton Council launches consultation over extending PRS licensing scheme


A consultation is underway to see whether local people want Seſton Council’s housing licensing schemes for privately rented properties extended for a further five-years. Since March 2018, Seſton Council has had a


Selective Licensing scheme for private landlords in the Bootle area. Tere is also another licensing scheme which is called ‘Additional (HMO) Licensing which is only for houses of multiple occupancy (rented to at least three people, who are not part of the same family) for privately rented property situated in parts of Seaforth, Waterloo, Brighton-Le-Sands and central Southport. With the current schemes due to end on 28th


February 2023, Seſton Council is now carrying out a 12-week consultation on its proposal to extend


them until February 2028. Information about the proposals and a link to the consultation can be found at www.seſton.gov.uk/licensing-consultation Councillor Trish Hardy, Seſton Council’s


Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Introducing the current licencing schemes has enabled Seſton Council to work with private landlords in the areas covered to improve their standards of management. “Tis, in turn, has resulted in improved living


conditions for their tenants as well as improvements for the wider areas, such as reduced anti-social behaviour. By extending the scheme for a further five years, we want to build on this success and bring about further benefits for landlords, tenants and those communities.”


16 | HMMJune/July 2022 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk Since the introduction of the Scheme in March


2018, serious health and safety hazards have been removed from over 300 licensed properties. Tese include issues relating to fire safety, electrical hazards, damp & mould and excess cold. Although nearly 60 per cent of the properties


inspected did not initially meet the required housing standards, 98 per cent of these were subsequently improved. 81 private landlords have received Civil Penalty Fines for failing to licence their properties. Councillor Hardy added: “Our view is that by


renewing these schemes we can deliver benefits for tenants, landlords and the neighbourhoods they cover and the costs for landlords would start from just £2.67 per week.”


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