UK housing policy snapshot: Key takeaways from the Building Better Boards event

Our April Building Better Boards virtual event took stock of the current state of housing policy in all four UK nations, exploring how you and your boards might navigate the current landscape. 

Where are we at with housing policy, and what can we expect over the coming months? 

This was the focus of our recent Building Better Boards virtual webinar, which explored the main policy developments in the year to date, and how housing providers in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland should prepare for the potential legislative and policy changes coming down the line. 

The session, chaired by CIH chief executive Gavin Smart, featured insight from CIH’s policy experts from across the UK. 

England 

First up was Rachael Williamson, head of policy and external affairs, who provided an overview of the policy landscape in England. 

Some of the big developments that have taken place over recent months include the now-closed consultation on Awaab’s Law, to which the CIH has provided a response, and the new proactive consumer standards, which went live on 1 April – both of which came out of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act. 

Aside from awaiting the outcome of the Awaab’s Law consultation, the sector is also awaiting the outcome of other consultations, including on the Future Homes Standard and Social Housing Allocations, all of which the CIH has provided a response to. There are upcoming consultations on the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, the Decent Homes Standard, and Access to Information. 

A consultation has also concluded on the Competence and Conduct Standard, which is due to come into effect from April next year. However, as pointed out by Rachael, there is a “question in terms of the detail” regarding how long the transition period will be. Current proposals state that it will last for two years; CIH believes it should be extended to three years. 

Work also continues with the Better Social Housing Review, which was initially published at the end of 2022. A ‘one year on’ report was published in December, with a follow-up report due this summer. 

Looking ahead to the upcoming general election and the possibility of a Labour government, Williamson highlighted the “real commitment” to housing, and in particular social housing, the party has recently displayed. 

“There’s certainly a real will to do it,” she said, “but they need some help on how they would deliver it.” 

Northern Ireland 

It’s been quite a year so far for Nothern Ireland, with the restoration of the Executive after a lengthy political stalemate. However, despite the return of a functioning political system, CIH Northern Ireland national director Justin Cartwright highlighted how budgets, including housing budgets, are under pressure and that cuts are “likely”. 

He said 1,200-1,300 homes might be built this year under the Social Housing Development Programme, but “we think on average we need about 2,200 new homes each year”. Justin also highlighted the “quite significant” growth in the use of temporary accommodation such as hotels, “which we all know is not great for people, and certainly not great for public funds in terms of value for money.” 

It’s not all doom and gloom, however, as there exists the “political will” to deliver on housing, with Gordon Lyons, Northern Ireland’s new minister for communities, recently increasing Supporting People funding by £3 million. 

A private-rented sector (PRS) ‘refresh’ is also underway, with the Department for Communities undertaking a second phase of reform, which will look at (among other areas): 

• Establishing a housing panel for dispute resolution 
• Extending tenancy terms 
• Addressing affordability concerns
• Implementing higher quality standards. 

Work is also underway to update housing and safety policy in areas such as anti-social behaviour, fire safety in high-rise buildings, and climate change and planning. 

Wales  

While Northern Ireland has a new Executive, Wales has a new first minister. 

As pointed out by Cerys Clark, CIH Cymru’s policy and public affairs manager, Vaughan Gething’s campaign manifesto included the aim of delivering “a place called home”, as part of a wider vision to build a “fairer future” for Wales that includes more social homes, tackling the housing crisis, and tackling homelessness. “Quite a big ambition,” Cerys said. 

Gething’s manifesto also spoke of setting up an ‘affordable housing taskforce’ and an ongoing commitment to retrofitting existing homes and supporting the development of net zero skills. 

The “big campaign” in Wales, however, is the need to embed the right to adequate housing into law, calls for which Julie James, the secretary for housing, local government, and planning, addressed at TAI 2024. As Cerys pointed out, the minister has said she is committed to the right to adequate housing, but that she is hesitant to implement it immediately. 

Cerys explained: “The minister wants everything in place first, and then implement the right; whereas we would say we need to incorporate a progressive realisation of the right today, so that it becomes a delivery for change in Wales.” 

Meanwhile, a white paper on securing a pathway to adequate housing, including fair rents, is due to be published this summer; while a white paper on ending homelessness was published toward the end of last year, with all responses to the publication now submitted. 

The Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2023 is now also in force, having come into effect on 1 April. The standard largely focuses on improving the quality of homes, especially in terms of energy efficiency. Commenting on the standard, Cerys said: “We keep reiterating that there is more funding needed if social landlords are to meet development targets and ensure existing stock is retrofitted and brought up to these new high standards.” 

Scotland 

Lastly, it was the turn of Callum Chomczuk, the national director of CIH Scotland, who, amid political turbulence following Humza Yousaf’s decision to end power-sharing with the Scottish Green Party, had the difficult job of laying out the housing policy landscape in Scotland for the coming months. 

In terms of priorities, Callum said the sector needed more funding. “That does not mean credit and loans from the sector,” he said. “That means cash.” 

Professionalism will also continue to be a big focus for the sector. “We probably don’t think that’s [mandatory qualifications as in England] going to be the solution in Scotland, but we also want to recognise what we can do to enhance professionalism,” Callum said. Other priorities include older people’s housing and sustainability. 

Commenting on upcoming legislation that is either due to be consulted on or come into effect, Callum said there had been “lots of discussion around...things we all agree with in principle”. He added: “But it comes back to money: if we don’t find it, does it actually make a difference?” 

Reflecting on recent housing developments, Callum reiterated CIH Scotland’s housing emergency declaration at this year’s Scotland’s Housing Festival. The announcement was made amid worsening levels of homelessness, including children in temporary accommodation; growing unaffordability in the PRS; a continued failure to deliver the numbers of homes needed to meet demand; and the Scottish government’s recent decision to pull nearly £200 million from the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. 

Most recently, the Scottish government published its Housing Bill, laying out new legislation around PRS rent control, tenants’ rights, domestic abuse and homelessness. 

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