Almost 430,000 homes in England still fail to meet the minimum standard for decent social housing, MPs have warned.
The Housing, Committee and Local Government committee called for a new programme to improve social housing standards
A report from the House of Commons committee found little progress in bringing England’s social housing up to minimum quality standards since the start of the pandemic. While most social homes still provide “decent places to live”, the committee says it is “not acceptable” that just under 430,000 homes continue to fall below basic standard.
Overcrowding now affects just under 9% of social homes while damp or mould is reported in around 7%. Five percent contain Category 1 health and safety hazards, double the rate found in the private rented sectors. The report said tenants complaints are treated as an afterthought, leaving many residents living in sub-standard conditions.
Committee chair Florence Eshalomi MP warned: “Whether it is residents living in poorly insulated homes, experiencing overcrowding or enduring housing with damp or mould, it’s vital that Government measures, including Awaab’s law and the New Decent Homes Standard, bring a meaningful improvement to social housing conditions.”
She added that while the Government has rebuilt the sector’s financial capacity, she has “concerns about the resources available to social housing providers to meet the new social homes target while also raising standards”.
Awaab’s Law, being introduced in phases from October 2025, requires landlords to act on serious hazards within 24 hours, with wider risks such as excess cold and structural issues covered by 2027.
The committee called for clearer guidance on later reforms and warned that high energy costs can leave tenants in fuel poverty, or even energy-efficient homes.
With 180,000 new social homes planned over the next decade, the committee said a modern Decent Homes Programme is needed to address what is described as unacceptable conditions.