Robert Halfon MP helps to secure landmark reforms to improve social housing

FOLLOWING many years of campaigning, Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow, welcomed landmark reforms to improve social housing for Harlow residents.

Mr Halfon has raised this issue in Parliament and with Ministers on numerous occasions and the Housing Secretary has today announced a new Charter for Social Housing Residents which will ensure homes are safe, landlords are more accountable and complaints are dealt with promptly and fairly.

The social housing reforms also follow a successful campaign from Mr Halfon to change permitted development rights legislation to put an end to the creation of poor quality housing, through office-to-residential conversions.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr Halfon said: “I have campaigned for many years to ensure that everyone in our town has quality housing – meeting with Ministers and raising it in Parliament on many occasions. This will give social housing residents a greater voice, toughen the housing regulator to ensure high standards from landlords and strengthen the Housing Ombudsman to speed up the handling of complaints.

“I will continue to work hard to ensure that there are high quality Harlow homes for Harlow people – ensuring everyone in our town has the opportunity to get on the housing ladder with a high quality home.”

The social housing white paper delivers on the government’s manifesto pledge to provide greater redress, better regulation and improve the quality of social housing. It also includes a new Charter setting out what every social housing resident should expect from their landlord:

1. To be safe in your home. We will work with industry and landlords to ensure every home is safe and secure.
2. To know how your landlord is performing, including on repairs, complaints and safety, and how it spends its money, so you can hold it to account.
3. To have your complaints dealt with promptly and fairly, with access to a strong Ombudsman who will give you swift and fair redress when needed.
4. To be treated with respect, backed by a strong consumer regulator and improved consumer standards for tenants.
5. To have your voice heard by your landlord, for example through regular meetings, scrutiny panels or being on its Board. The government will provide help, if you want it, to give you the tools to ensure your landlord listens.
6. To have a good quality home and neighbourhood to live in, with your landlord keeping your home in good repair.
7. To be supported to take your first step to ownership, so it is a ladder to other opportunities, should your circumstances allow.