Advertisement
Housing

Britain’s housing safety ‘inadequate,’ report finds

Study commissioned by Shelter finds current regulations obscure and outdated

Housing safety laws are not up to scratch, according to a new report by Shelter.

The study – conducted by Universities of Bristol and Kent researchers in the wake of the deadly Grenfell Tower fire – discovered 85% of housing professionals believe current rules and regulations are failing to protect the nation’s tenants.

Shelter called for an overhaul in safety standards.

They’ve failed so catastrophically that those living in social housing are no longer safe

“The laws which are meant to protect people in their homes are inadequate and outdated, stretching back to the Victorian times,” said the charity’s chief executive Polly Neate.

“They’ve failed so catastrophically that those living in social housing are no longer safe.”

The academics surveyed tenants as well as landlords and housing lawyers for the report “Closing The Gaps: Health And Safety In Housing.” They found that confusing web of current legislation was divorced from housing problems as residents have experienced them.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

Some local authorities had said they did not want to place “unnecessarily burdensome” demands on builders, landlords and management groups. And cuts to legal aid have made raising housing safety cases more difficult.

“It’s shocking, it’s concerning, it’s ludicrous, ridiculous and dangerous,” said David Cowan, one of the report’s authors.

Last week, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on the government to find £1 billion to install fire safety sprinklers in all high-rise social housing (blocks over 30 metres tall).

“The evidence is overwhelming,” said Corbyn. “When almost every authoritative source on the matter is saying the same thing – that retrofitting of sprinklers is necessary in high-rise housing – this measure is just common sense and will protect thousands of lives.

“Grenfell was an avoidable tragedy. It did not have to happen and it would not have happened if adequate precautions, including sprinklers, were in place.”

A public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire continues.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

Read All
Introduce inspections for temporary housing to stop children living in horror homes, Labour told
a child at the window of their home
Homelessness

Introduce inspections for temporary housing to stop children living in horror homes, Labour told

Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle
Somerford Grove Renters in Hackney
Renting

Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle

This is the devastating impact growing up in temporary accommodation has on children’s GCSE results
school children at desks
Education

This is the devastating impact growing up in temporary accommodation has on children’s GCSE results

Electric van to help charity deliver 50,000 meals to homeless people
Four people stand around an electric van
Homelessness

Electric van to help charity deliver 50,000 meals to homeless people

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue