02 February 2007
Local authorities may have seriously underestimated the condition of their homes before the government embarked on its drive to bring them up to standard, according to a new study.
Last year, 58 English councils reported a larger percentage of non-decent homes than four years earlier, according to the analysis by Hal Pawson, a professor at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.
The analysis, based on Best Value performance indicators, shows that 40% of council homes were below standard in April 2006, compared with 48% four years earlier.
But Pawson believes the reduction should have been – and possibly was – greater. 'On the face of it, the figures look disappointing for the public sector,' he told Public Finance.
Right-to-buy sales have probably pushed up the proportion of non-decent homes still owned by councils, because tenants tend to purchase those in better condition.
But Pawson claims it is possible that far more than 48% of homes were below standard in 2002. 'This suggests that post-2003 surveys have revealed previously hidden defects,' he says.
Pawson's figures are contained in a report on housing management published by the Housing Quality Network.
It shows councils completing 96% of urgent repairs within government time limits, with the proportion of late repairs cut by half during the past five years. Non-urgent repairs were typically carried out in 13 days – a 30% improvement since 2001/02.
The proportion of tenants with rent arrears is continuing to fall slightly, while councils collect a higher proportion of rent.
A further report, published by the Department for Communities and Local Government on January 29, shows the number of public and private sector homes classed as non-decent fell by about one third to just under 6 million between 1996 and 2005.
According to the English house condition survey, 29% of social housing is below standard compared with 41% of properties in the private rented sector.
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