Key asks

We want to work with Government and the energy providers to end fuel poverty for millions of people

• We are urging Government to introduce a one off Covid-19 winter fuel payment of £300 to each vulnerable household.
• We are urging energy providers to remove standing charges from the most vulnerable households with immediate effect.
• We are also urging energy providers to ensure a customer known to be on a higher tariff be moved to a better tariff. Also, for them to simplify the process and information around switching tariffs.
• Over the longer term we’d like to see energy providers prioritise those in social and affordable homes as part of its program of switching to smart metering.
• We want Government to work towards making the winter fuel payment targeted and extend the criteria beyond pensionable age to help the most vulnerable.
• In the longer term we also want Government to work with the sector and UK lenders so that innovative financing schemes can be delivered to increase the roll-out of commercial models of battery storage and rooftop solar panels, especially for social housing. 

We call on Government to review and upgrade the Decent Homes Standard

• Current Decent Home Standard is outdated and needs reform - it was last updated in 2006.
• We want a zero tolerance to damp - 897,000 homes with damp in England have had little or no improvement since 2011. The existence of penetrating or rising damp should be an automatic fail and mechanical ventilation ought to be mandatory in the kitchen and bathroom if damp levels are above 5%.
• Energy Efficient homes: Commitment to reduce EPC ratings from E to C by 2030 and minimum standards of insulation: 48% of housing association stock that is EPC rating D-E which is costing the average Band E household an extra £650 year in heating bills.
• Guaranteed minimum standards: Replace the hazard rating system approach with explicit minimum standards for each aspect of a decent home as informed by the experience and expectation of customers.

We want to see a social care settlement – we need Government to provide a cash injection, and deliver medium term reform

• The Complex Care programme needs additional support from DoHSC. Home Group has prioritised delivering the housing and support solutions through our ‘strategic partnership grant delivery’.
• Home Group is leading on the delivery of the Supported Housing Sector Scorecard, which will ensure value for money across the sector.
• Government needs to make housing engagement a “requirement” for NHS trusts.

We want a fund established which would help kick start the process of strategic land assembly

• We want more Development Corporations set up.
• We want greater focus on infrastructure (eg schools/GP surgeries), not just road links etc. We want joined up developer contributions to deliver this.
• We want the change to Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) & S106 to be calculated to reflect achieved sales values, rather than estimations.

We want Government to recognise the value of regeneration beyond simply asset value, and capture the social and wider external value, shown in Home Group’s regeneration framework – an approach backed up by London School of Economics (LSE).
We want Government /Homes England and MHCLG to develop a blueprint for engagement regarding partners and customers.