A new study conducted by the Resolution Foundation has discovered that one in six young adults aged 18-34 are living in poor-quality housing across the UK. This situation is resulting in significant physical and mental health risks for those affected. According to the thinktank's findings, up to 2.6 million individuals within this age group reside in substandard properties.
The report highlights that the highest concentrations of poor-quality housing are found among young people, low-income families, and those from minority ethnic backgrounds. People from Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds were most likely to report living in inadequate housing conditions, followed closely by Black families.
Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway commented on the increase of complaints related to dampness and leaks: "We have seen a worrying rise of reported cases concerning social housing tenants experiencing damp and leaks throughout England." He warned that if this trend continues, there will be more than double such complaints compared with those recorded during 2020-21.
In response to these concerns, the government has announced plans to invest £11.5 billion into delivering tens of thousands of homes for sale and rent across various regions. Additionally, an upcoming social housing bill aims at introducing "Awaab's Law," which will impose strict deadlines on landlords requiring them to fix issues like dampness, mould growths and other hazards promptly.
Lindsay Judge, Research Director at Resolution Foundation explained how important it is for all residents – regardless of their background –to attain proper quality accommodation: "It is vital that everyone should have access to safe and secure homes; however our research shows that not only do we need more affordable options but also better monitoring systems ensuring these properties meet necessary standards."
The introduction of Awaab's Law stands as a testament towards remedying this issue; nonetheless it remains crucial for both the government and landlords to work collaboratively in providing safe, quality housing for all citizens.