Angela Rayner announces major social housing shake-up to tackle soaring complaints

Angela Rayner today announces tough new rules to stop tenants being treated badly in an overhaul of the social housing sector.

The Deputy Prime Minister says new standards for housing providers will help tackle rocketing complaints about poor service.

New rules mean housing chiefs will be required by law to have specialist qualifications. And housing associations will have to publish key information about the way they make decisions.

It comes as Ms Rayner sets out Labour's ambition to deliver 300,000 social and affordable homes in the next 10 years.

Alarming data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) shows complaints about poor housing conditions soared by 474% since 2019. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of these were due to poor practice.

From October next year a new standard will force housing providers to ensure senior managers and executives are properly qualified. The Government said this will ensure they have the right skills to give the service tenants deserve.

One in 10 social housing residents feel their landlord does not treat them with respect, the MHCLG says. New measures from 2027 will also force providers to share information about complaint handling and health and safety.

Ms Rayner, who is also Housing Secretary, will set out plans to build 300,000 social and affordable homes - of which 60% will be for social rent. The Government says there are 165,000 children currently in temporary accommodation.

The Deputy PM said: “We are seizing this golden opportunity with both hands to transform this country by building the social and affordable homes we need, so we create a brighter future where families aren’t trapped in temporary accommodation and young people are no longer locked out of a secure home."

The measures are part of Labour's £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which was announced by Rachel Reeves at last month's Spending Review.

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