The Better Social Housing Review
Social housing should be a place where everyone feels at home, safe, and happy. To make sure this happens, a group of experts formed an independent panel, and talked to people living in social housing and the organisations that work with it.
They listened to people’s stories and ideas about how to improve social housing. The panel has now shared their recommendations with the government and organisations that manage social housing.
Both the National Housing Federation and the Chartered Institute of Housing support these recommendations. They’re working together to make sure these changes happen. This review is an important step towards making social housing a better place for everyone.
The key recommendations and our response
Recommendation 1
Every housing association, and the sector as a whole, should refocus on their core purpose and deliver against it.
Recommendation 2
Housing associations should work together to conduct and publish a thorough audit of all social housing in England.
Recommendation 3
Housing associations should partner with tenants, contractors and frontline staff to develop and apply new standards defining what an excellent maintenance and repairs process looks like.
Recommendation 4
The Chartered Institute of Housing should promote the traditional housing officer role as a supported and valued employment opportunity with a Chartered Institute of Housing recognised programme of training and continuing development.
Recommendation 5
Housing associations should work with all tenants to ensure that they have a voice and influence at every level of decision making across the organisation, through both voluntary and paid roles.
Recommendation 6
Housing associations should develop a proactive local community presence through community hubs which foster greater multi-agency working.
Recommendation 7
Housing associations should support tenants and frontline staff to undertake an annual review of the progress each organisation is making in implementing this review’s recommendations.