Improved Housing Benefits Everyone

The BRE Trust has conducted new research with the purpose of finding out what level of improvements have been made in the treatment of housing-related injuries and illnesses under the Government’s Decent Homes Programme. This program was launched by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG). According to a study conducted by the BRE Trust, there have been improvements made with a pleasant twist on the improving health of the tenants themselves. According to Housing Excellence, the intention of the program was to bring up the standards of social housing as a nation.

Many benefits were gained during a 10 year period between 2001 and 2010. Some of those benefits include taking care of serious hazards. There was an estimated total savings to the NHS of about £392 million. The greatest of the savings to the NHS was due to addressing the most serious hazards which are categorized in the Housing Health & Safety Rating System. Those savings totaled £224 million. An additional savings of £71 million per year is also gained provided the stock stays at a reasonable level and is considered hazard free.

The study showed that 759,000 or 20% of homes in the social sector were not considered decent places to live in 2010. The problem with this is that these issues are not only difficult to remedy, but also quite costly. The costs to the NHS of allowing housing to fall into the non-decency category are great, if the right amount of money is not invested. As of 2010, the estimated costs of these Category 1 hazards was £184 million. If any of the homes, which are now regarded as decent, fall in to a category that labels them non-decent the costs will continue to rise and cause an even greater challenge in improving the public housing. This is a big concern for many who are working hard to take steps toward preventing that from happening.

It is beneficial to everyone for the social sector homes to continue to be improved upon, and transitioned into safe and decent places for people to live. It is better on a personal level because improved living conditions greatly add to the quality of life. The subsequent productivity to the individuals who live in the housing is enormous, and it just makes economic sense. When social housing improves that opens the door for investors to buy homes in the surrounding areas for buy-to-let investments. This raises the overall value of the community which benefits everyone as well.

With Online Letting Agents readily available to help those investors with their investment properties, they are better equipped to make good decisions which benefit the entire community. It has been documented that other costs associated with the housing, which are easily forgotten, are the costs of reduced education and performance by children and adults living in these conditions. When the basic needs of people are neglected, it has a negative impact on the community and the rest of society.