UN official will urge government to fund social housing

September 13, 2013

By Pete Apps

Special rapporteur Raquel Rolnik has already provoked an angry response from Conservatives by calling for the suspension of the bedroom tax and a ‘rethink’ of welfare reform.

In her report to the UN Human Rights Council, to be published in March, she will also advise that grant funding for developing social homes should be renewed, she told Inside Housing.

In October 2010 the government ceased funding social housing, instead only funding affordable rent homes, which charge up to 80 per cent of market rates.

‘I think there is a danger [the UK is breaching] the human right to adequate housing and its elements,’ she said. ‘One of these elements is affordability.’

‘Without the subsidy it just impossible to produce affordable housing,’ she continued.

Asked specifically if she would recommend grant funding for social homes, she replied: ‘Yes sir. In the 30s that was done, in the 50s that was done and it can be done again.’

Her preliminary report found the provision of housing in the UK is deteriorating.

Her report will be presented to the Human Rights Council, which can question the UK on her findings, but has no power to force it to act.

Scottish and Welsh housing ministers issued statements on Wednesday welcoming her findings on the bedroom tax.

The right to adequate housing is not directly enforceable in UK courts, but Giles Peaker of Anthony Gold Solicitors said a finding that is being breached could be of ‘limited persuasive use’ in future legal challenges to the bedroom tax.

Source: Inside Housing