Housing Justice News Release 14 July 2006
For immediate release
Housing Justice welcomes government move to redefine overcrowding
Housing Justice today welcomed Housing Minister Yvette Cooper’s announcement that the government is to reform the definition of overcrowding.
The present statutory definition of overcrowding was first adopted in the 1930s and has not been updated since then. It considers that all rooms in a house, including kitchens and living rooms, can be used as bedrooms, ignores the needs of children and fails to provide teenagers with sufficient space. It was originally intended that the definition would be updated over time but this has not been done.
Even with the current limited definition of overcrowding, government figures show that more than 20,000 families currently live in overcrowded accommodation, with concentrations in London in both social and private rented accommodation. The real problem of overcrowding however is far greater; if other definitions of overcrowding such as the bedroom standard are used, as many as 500,000 families are suffering the misery of living in overcrowded accommodation.
Housing Justice Chief Executive Robina Rafferty commented “Our network of housing advice centres report to us many cases of families suffering the misery of overcrowded housing. Often however they are unable to be re-housed because their local authority has no obligation to act under the law.”
“We welcome the redefinition as the first step towards tackling this problem. The effects of overcrowding on families are felt most of all by children and young people. Overcrowding means that they have no space to themselves and can affect their educational achievement, health and well-being, the effects of which are felt all their lives. These problems are experienced by the whole of society in increased medical costs and young people failing to reach their full potential.”
She added “In the twenty first century in one of the richest countries in the world it is scandalous that families have to live in overcrowded conditions. The new definition must take into account the need for children and teenagers to have their own separate spaces, and the need for families to have communal living rooms.”
Finally Rafferty praised the government for tackling this issue. She noted: “it is very courageous of the government to propose redefining the overcrowding definition as it will result in increased numbers of families being eligible for re-housing. As Yvette Cooper acknowledged, the only long-term answer to overcrowding is building more houses of a suitable size for families. We hope that they will be able to give a commitment to build these homes to tackle the problem.”
Notes
Yvette Cooper today launched a consultation document that proposes to redefine overcrowding. Further information on the announcement is available at www.communities.gov.uk. Information on current levels of overcrowding is also available on the website.
Edmonton Labour MP Andrew Love proposed a redefinition of overcrowding in a Private Members Bill in January 2003. Andrew Love is Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Homelessness of which Housing Justice’s Chief Executive Robina Rafferty is Clerk. Housing Justice has been campaigning on this issue through the APPG and independently since its formation.
Two cases dealt with by Housing Justice CHAS housing advice centres
1) Mr. and Mrs K, clients of Housing Justice’s Central London CHAS housing advice centre, live in a two bedroom flat occupied by two adults and five children, two of them studying for GCSEs. There is great concern that the two eldest children do not have any study space, and despite being very bright children they are projected to do less well than their peers. The children’s schools have made representations to the local authority concerning the problem. “In our opinion the family are statutorily overcrowded, but the local authority have not yet made a decision on the case.”
2) Mr. U and Ms B are also clients of the Central London CHAS advice centre. Seven adults and two children are living in a three bedroom flat. There is extensive condensation dampness caused by overcrowding. All the family have ongoing asthma and bronchial problems. The size of the family suggests that they are statutorily overcrowded under Part X of the Housing Act l985, s. 326/7. The local authority accept this, but say that the family need a five to six bedroom property which is not available in this area.
About Housing Justice
Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action to prevent
homelessness and bad housing.
Housing Justice was formed in April 2003 by the merger of two
long-standing housing charities, the Catholic Housing Aid Society (CHAS)
and the Churches National Housing Coalition (CNHC). In January 2006
Housing Justice merged with UNLEASH (Church Action on Homelessness in London). Housing Justice brings together more than 60 years experience of working for change in the field of housing.
Housing Justice provides frontline services to people in housing need
and campaigns to improve housing policy. In total Housing Justice is
actively involved in more than 35 communities across England and Wales.
The Housing Justice CHAS network of 12 housing advice centres provide
practical support to people with housing and related problems.
Housing Justice UNLEASH works to support church-based housing and
homelessness projects in London.
Housing Justice Regenerate, funded by the government's Civil Renewal
Unit, supports resident-led regeneration in 15 guide neighbourhoods
across the UK. Regenerate brings together residents who have transformed their estates with those who want to embark on the regeneration process to share learning and offer support.
Housing Justice works with Scottish Churches Housing Action to organise the annual Homelessness Sunday, a day when churches are encouraged to reflect on the problems of homelessness and bad housing. Homelessness Sunday will be held on Sunday 28 January 2007.
Housing Justice works with, and for, homeless and badly housed people of all denominations, and with those who have no religious beliefs. All our
services are offered to the whole community and, wherever possible, we
work in partnership with others who share our values, regardless of
religious beliefs.
Further information on Housing Justice is available at
www.housingjustice.org.uk
Contact
Luke Evans 020 7723 7273
email media@housingjustice.org.uk