The Secretary of State Sajid Javid speech to the National Housing Federation conference 2017

Javid speaks to the National Housing Federation

“The question I keep coming back to is very simple… would a fire like this [Grenfell] have happened in a privately owned block of luxury flats?” – Sajid Javid

In his address to the National Housing Federation Conference, Secretary of State Sajid Javid announced the government will bring forward a green paper on social housing in England.

“The most substantial report of its kind for a generation” comes in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy which, says Mr Javid, highlighted how housing can reinforce social divides and the need for a “fundamental rethink” of social housing.

Social housing tenants nationwide have told Housing Minister Alok Sharma they want the government to:

Examine the quality and safety of their accommodation.

Listen to them and act on their concerns

Look again at the number of homes being built, and community cohesion.

Mr Javid said these views had been taken on board and the green paper would review:

Safety issues

Quality of social homes

Service management

Tenants’ rights and how their voices are heard

Clear procedures for tenants’ complaints

Creating social housing as part of safe and integrated communities

Homelessness

Support for leaseholders with a social landlord

Illegal sub-letting – and getting to the cause of it

Building more homes in the right places

He said the green paper will inform both government policy and the wider debate for many years to come, by drawing on the views not just of those working in the sector, but residents in social housing and those who need it.

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