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League tables must consider human rights law, warns watchdog
League tables for social housing providers proposed by the government must expand to take human rights law into account, the equalities watchdog has said.
In its response to the Social Housing Green Paper – seen exclusively by Inside Housing – the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said that key performance indicators should be expanded to reflect the human right to adequate housing.
According to the EHRC, housing associations should be judged on security of tenure, affordability, how close they are to essential services and accessibility, as well as on the indicators suggested by the government.
These are all, it said, core elements of the right to adequate housing, as set out by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
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The Social Housing Green Paper, which was published in August, set out plans for league tables of housing associations and local authorities and “sharper teeth” for the Regulator of Social Housing over tenant-related issues.
In the paper, the government said the indicators would cover issues such as keeping properties in good repair, maintaining safety, handling complaints, engaging with residents and managing neighbourhoods well.
While the EHRC welcomed these requirements, it suggested the other measures should be added.
It also argued that the threshold of habitability should be “incorporated as an explicit requirement” and that residents should have “meaningful participation in decision-making”.
In the EHRC’s response to the green paper, it also gave its views on how the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people last June, relates to international human rights law.
It said: “In the commission’s view, the socio-economic status of Grenfell residents played a significant part in how they were treated by decision-makers.
“Relevant socio-economic rights and the non-discrimination principle (including on the ground of socio-economic status) contained in ICESCR [International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights] must guide and inform the changes needed to create an improved social housing system in England, learning the lessons from past failures and which, in future, effectively protects residents’ safety.”
Social Housing Green Paper: full coverage
All our Social Housing Green Paper coverage in one place:
Green paper measures are not enough to create May’s ‘new generation’ of council homes Green paper proposals are welcome but much more is needed to support councils to build, writes John Bibby
Green paper shows ministers now see associations as trusted partners Focusing on the failure of the green paper to address supply misses the point, writes Boris Worrall
Government should focus on building on what is already strong Philippa Jones considers the Social Housing Green Paper through a slightly different lens
We need more than a week of delayed announcements bundled together Jules Birch reflects on the government’s ‘Housing Week’ announcements
The regulator should monitor how associations assist homeless people Government announcements this week are positive, but any enhanced role for the English regulator should include looking at homelessness prevention work, argues David Bogle
The regulator’s role should be limited to dealing with systemic failures Julian Ashby suggests the Housing Ombudsman Service should deal with all complaints
The green paper shows ministers are in listening mode Despite some glaring omissions, the government appears to be in listening mode and it is important the sector takes advantage, argues Emma Maier
A short history of social housing league tables Attempts to create league tables for housing associations are nothing new. Mervyn Jones looks at how they have worked in the past
League tables could prove blunt and counter-productive, sector warns Housing figures criticise government proposals to measure social landlords against performance indicators
Government ‘must decide how proactive regulator should be’ on consumer standards Ministers now face a dilemma over the regulator’s focus, sector figures say
The Green Paper: a golden opportunity missed? Melanie Rees assesses the Social Housing Green Paper against recommendations drawn up by the Chartered Institute of Housing and finds the government comes up short
Longer strategic partnerships and guranteed debt to boost social housebuilding The Social Housing Green Paper outlines key ways of boosting supply
The green paper is remarkable progress but it is still not enough The green paper suggests the government appears to be re-writing much of its policy since 2010, but more needs to be done, writes Jules Birch
Green paper marks a ‘milestone’ on resident involvement The government’s recognition residents need clear information is to be welcomed, now it up to the sector to embrace tenant involvement, writes Paul Hackett
Ministers consider stock transfer programme to community-led associations The stock transfer programme could be revived under proposals in the housing green paper
Access to housing grant could be tied to new league tables Grant could be awarded according to how well landlords meet performance indicators, the paper suggests
Ofsted-style regulation of tenant services proposed The government is considering expanding the Regulator for Social Housing’s remit to intervene over tenant services and give it a more “proactive approach to enforcement”
Government proposes dropping one-for-one Right to Buy replacement commitment A consultation paper published alongside the green paper proposes a broader measurement to replace the one-for-one pledge
A list of recent housing policy U-turns The green paper confirms yet more housing policy U-turns from the government, which has spent the past two years dropping policy ideas developed under the David Cameron government. Here is a rundown of the major changes in policy direction
Sector welcomes green paper but calls for more ‘ambitious investment’ Reaction to the proposals, from the National Housing Federation, Chartered Institute of Housing and more
Morning Briefing: reaction to green paper announcements how the media reported the proposals trailed by the government overnight
Government drops plans to force councils to sell higher-value stock The government drops plans to force councils to sell higher value homes
League tables and ‘sharper teeth’ for regulator in social housing green paper Ministers reveal some of the things in the paper ahead of its publication
Grenfell survivors: green paper does not go far enough survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire have said the measures published in the Social Housing Green Paper do not do enough to rectify issues in the social housing sector
