MPs have urged the Government to protect tenants from the ‘catastrophic’ impact of poor-quality homes on their health.
The Decent Homes Standard for social housing tenants should be updated ‘without delay’ and extended to the private rented sector, in line with a government commitment made more than three years ago, a new report by the Health and Social Care Committee says.
The Standard has not been updated since 2006.
The committee welcomed proposals to require social landlords to fix hazards including damp and mould within ‘strict time limits’ under ‘Awaab’s Law’, which will be introduced by the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023.
However, the Government must consider safeguards against unsafe housing conditions for those who rent in the private sector, committee chair Steve Brine said.
Mr Brine added: ‘Poor quality homes can have a catastrophic impact on the health of the those who live in them.
‘The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from a respiratory condition caused by mould in his home should leave ministers in no doubt that tenants in both the social and private rented sectors deserve greater protection by law.’
The call from MPs comes after charities described reports that asylum accommodation is likely to be exempt from Awaab’s Law as 'unacceptable'.
