How the right to adequate housing can transform the housing landscape

Since 2019, CIH Cymru alongside ‘Back the Bill’ partners Tai Pawb and Shelter Cymru have been campaigning for the right to adequate housing to be enshrined in law. With a government white paper now around the corner, Cerys Clark highlights how enshrining the right could break down barriers to tackling chronic housing issues.

Over the summer CIH Cymru undertook a survey of housing professionals in Wales. We took the opportunity to ask the sector what was needed to end homelessness in Wales, and whether the target of 20,000 low carbon social homes would be achieved by March 2026.

The responses were clear: we need more homes in order to end homelessness.  

Respondents also had little confidence in the target for 20,000 low carbon social homes being met. One respondent summed it up saying: “Supply. No number of changes to legislation is going to end homelessness - what we need is a sufficient supply of homes for everyone who needs one”.

Seems simple: we need to build more homes. The Welsh government knows this, and yet, as highlighted in the Audit Wales report, the existing target for 20,000 low carbon social homes is unlikely to be met without significant additional investment of between £580 and £740 million on top of existing funding commitments.

But increasing supply is not just about spending more money. There are also delays in the planning system, wide skills shortages, ongoing issues with the supply chain and a lack of land to develop on. What is needed is a whole housing system approach to increasing the supply of affordable homes.

This autumn, the government will publish a white paper on a right to adequate housing and fair rents. We believe this can deliver a whole system approach through a comprehensive strategy that looks at homelessness, supply across all tenures, the affordability of homes, the quality of homes and ensuring we have the right number of professionals within the sector to help deliver the right. It will also ensure that every lever can be used to ensure that everyone in Wales can access a suitable, safe and affordable home.

But what could this mean in practice?

Taking concerns raised by the respondents to our survey as to why social housing targets are not being met, we’ve outlined the practical measures a right to adequate housing could introduce to overcome these barriers. 

Increased investment

Progressive realisation means the Welsh government would be required to commit the maximum available money for housing over a period of time. Accompanying this investment would be the requirement for a detailed strategy, which would outline key goals, and build in accountability frameworks to evaluate progress being made.

Delays in the planning system

This is a key barrier to housing development in Wales, both in the private sector and to the development of much needed affordable homes. A right to adequate housing would provide the mechanism through which we can ensure government invests more in our planning system; Including looking at ways to speed up the process of gaining permission and increasing the number of planners in local authorities.

Wider skills shortage

This skills shortage is across housing, from planning to construction. Incorporation of the right to adequate housing will require Welsh government to invest more in skills across the whole housing sector. This would allow us to develop the homes we need and retrofit our existing homes so that everyone can access a safe, secure and affordable home.

Ongoing supply chain issues

Incorporation can provide a mechanism through which we can prioritise local supply chains.

Lack of land to develop on

Incorporation of the right to adequate housing would commit Welsh government to invest the maximum level of available resources into freeing up land for development and enable them to work with the public sector to free up land they own for development.

What's next?

Having the right to adequate housing in legislation is clearly positive. It will help deliver the whole system strategic approach needed to end the housing crisis in Wales. Its incorporation will also place duties on Welsh government to ensure that they are doing everything they can to realise that the right.

Here comes the scary bit. To do this will need investment from Welsh government at a time when the rhetoric from UK and Welsh government is public spending cuts. Yet we need to be radical if we are to tackle our housing emergency. The Back the Bill’s independent cost benefit analysis undertaken by Alma Economics put the total level of investment needed at £5 billion. This will generate £11.5 billion in benefits across the Welsh economy.  

The sector snapshot response is clear we need more homes to end homelessness, but we also need to overcome the barriers to development. So, let’s be ambitious by making housing a foundational mission of government by legislating for the right to adequate housing.

As one respondent to our survey summed up nicely: “Housing is not an after-thought. This should be one of the top priorities in Wales and in the UK. With the right housing available, the need for social and health services may be lessened. It’s time housing is put front and centre.”

We back the bill, will you?

• Back the Bill: A route for the right to adequate housing in Wales