A safe, secure, and affordable home is the foundation of a healthy life and thriving communities.
Our Securing the Future of Council Housing report shows council housing is under growing strain from rising costs, falling income, and increasing regulation.
Poor-quality homes harm health, deepen inequality, and drive up public service costs. That’s why Southwark, alongside 111 councils, is calling for a fully funded Green and Decent Homes Programme to upgrade homes, support net zero, improve health, boost the green economy, and secure the future of council housing.
Green and Decent Homes
We have developed a Green and Decent Homes policy framework to modernise, upgrade, and improve council housing so that homes are safe, healthy, energy-efficient, and a genuinely good place to live.
Our proposal:
- sets out 10 core principles we are urging government to adopt
- forms part of our wider Securing the Future of Council Housing campaign
- supports a national call for long-term, sustainable investment in council homes
The 10 core principles of the Green and Decent Homes proposal
- one single, integrated housing standard
- long-term, multi-year capital funding commitment
- funding allocated based on need
- strategic investment by landlords focused on clear outcomes
- a progressive and ambitious benchmark
- regularly updated to reflect innovation and best practice
- transparent, outcomes-based reporting
- flexibility for landlords with no arbitrary restrictions
- realistic delivery timelines
- investment in replacement homes as part of the standard