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| Housing and human rights: how do other countries compare with UK? | Housing and human rights: how do other countries compare with UK? |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| In 2012, the UN's special rapporteur on adequate housing published a report that looked at housing finance and human rights across the world. We take a look at her conclusions then as well as international statistics on the availability of adequate housing to find out if her 2013 intervention on Britain's so-called "bedroom tax" debate is inappropriate, as Grant Shapps, the Tory chairman, has claimed. | In 2012, the UN's special rapporteur on adequate housing published a report that looked at housing finance and human rights across the world. We take a look at her conclusions then as well as international statistics on the availability of adequate housing to find out if her 2013 intervention on Britain's so-called "bedroom tax" debate is inappropriate, as Grant Shapps, the Tory chairman, has claimed. |
| What is "adequate housing"? | What is "adequate housing"? |
| "Housing", along with food, clothing and medical care is mentioned under article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "Adequate", however, is a concept slightly harder to pin down. UN committees have tried to articulate "adequate housing" using these criteria to define a minimum standard: | "Housing", along with food, clothing and medical care is mentioned under article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "Adequate", however, is a concept slightly harder to pin down. UN committees have tried to articulate "adequate housing" using these criteria to define a minimum standard: |
| Security of tenure (occupants must have legal protection against . . forced evictions, harassment and other threats) Availability of infrastructure (safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, . . energy for cooking, heating, lighting etc) Affordability (the cost of housing mustn't threaten or compromise the . . occupant's other human rights) Habitability (occupants need physical safety, adequate space, as well . . as protection against the cold, damp, heat, rain, wind etc) Accessibility (specific needs of disadvantaged and marginalized . . groups must be taken into account) Location (employment opportunities, health-care services, schools etc . . must be accessible) Cultural adequacy (housing has to respect and take into account the . . expression of cultural identity) | Security of tenure (occupants must have legal protection against . . forced evictions, harassment and other threats) Availability of infrastructure (safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, . . energy for cooking, heating, lighting etc) Affordability (the cost of housing mustn't threaten or compromise the . . occupant's other human rights) Habitability (occupants need physical safety, adequate space, as well . . as protection against the cold, damp, heat, rain, wind etc) Accessibility (specific needs of disadvantaged and marginalized . . groups must be taken into account) Location (employment opportunities, health-care services, schools etc . . must be accessible) Cultural adequacy (housing has to respect and take into account the . . expression of cultural identity) |
| Which countries don't have "adequate housing"? | Which countries don't have "adequate housing"? |
| The UN's latest housing statistics cover the period 1995 to 2010. But they're far from complete - they only have data from 26 other places (not all countries provide numbers at a national level) about the presence of basic facilities in housing, which makes it difficult to accurately compare Britain's housing situation internationally. | The UN's latest housing statistics cover the period 1995 to 2010. But they're far from complete - they only have data from 26 other places (not all countries provide numbers at a national level) about the presence of basic facilities in housing, which makes it difficult to accurately compare Britain's housing situation internationally. |
| In the footnotes, you'll find what constitutes 'basic facilities' and how they relate to the definition of adequate housing above: | In the footnotes, you'll find what constitutes 'basic facilities' and how they relate to the definition of adequate housing above: |
| Conventional dwellings with all basic facilities are those having floor different from earth floor, with water piped inside the housing unit or the lot where the housing unit is located, and with an electricity and sewer system connected to a public network | Conventional dwellings with all basic facilities are those having floor different from earth floor, with water piped inside the housing unit or the lot where the housing unit is located, and with an electricity and sewer system connected to a public network |
| This is what we can say about housing in the UK on the basis of the numbers that are available. In 2001, out of 24,479,439 housing units, 110,865 were deemed to lack basic facilities. The proportion of inadequate housing was higher in urban than rural areas, and of four cities mentioned, London had the highest fraction of inadequate housing. | This is what we can say about housing in the UK on the basis of the numbers that are available. In 2001, out of 24,479,439 housing units, 110,865 were deemed to lack basic facilities. The proportion of inadequate housing was higher in urban than rural areas, and of four cities mentioned, London had the highest fraction of inadequate housing. |
| But the UK, with its 0.5% of housing structures that lack basic facilities, looks very different when stacked against the other countries included in the data. Top of the list is Romania, where 69% of housing lacks the minimum defined by the UN. | But the UK, with its 0.5% of housing structures that lack basic facilities, looks very different when stacked against the other countries included in the data. Top of the list is Romania, where 69% of housing lacks the minimum defined by the UN. |
| Take a look at the data we have so far and post your comments below - we'll be updating this article by sifting through different indicators of "adequate housing" throughout the day. | Take a look at the data we have so far and post your comments below - we'll be updating this article by sifting through different indicators of "adequate housing" throughout the day. |
| 12.10pm The role of government | 12.10pm The role of government |
| There are different types of state-intervention in the housing market - understanding them is important to get perspective on the UN special rapporteur's comments that the bedroom tax is "shocking". | There are different types of state-intervention in the housing market - understanding them is important to get perspective on the UN special rapporteur's comments that the bedroom tax is "shocking". |
| Raquel Rolnik has been special rapporteur on adequate housing since 2008 and has seen the role of government change over that time. Last year, in a report to the General Assembly, Rolnik commented that the state has shifted from being: | Raquel Rolnik has been special rapporteur on adequate housing since 2008 and has seen the role of government change over that time. Last year, in a report to the General Assembly, Rolnik commented that the state has shifted from being: |
| supplier of affordable housing to enabler of housing and financial markets... having examined the impact of these policies in various regions of the world, it is the view of the Special Rapporteur that they have largely failed to promote access to adequate housing for the poor. | supplier of affordable housing to enabler of housing and financial markets... having examined the impact of these policies in various regions of the world, it is the view of the Special Rapporteur that they have largely failed to promote access to adequate housing for the poor. |
| The UK is also specifically highlighted in the report as one of the countries with the fastest rises in average house prices. | The UK is also specifically highlighted in the report as one of the countries with the fastest rises in average house prices. |
| Between 1997 and 2004 average housing prices grew by 149 per cent in Spain, 139 per cent in the United Kingdom, 187 per cent in Ireland, 112 per cent in Australia, 65 per cent in the United States and 227 per cent in South Africa. | Between 1997 and 2004 average housing prices grew by 149 per cent in Spain, 139 per cent in the United Kingdom, 187 per cent in Ireland, 112 per cent in Australia, 65 per cent in the United States and 227 per cent in South Africa. |
| 12.50pm Universal human rights from a national perspective | |
| There are other reasons why Rolnik might consider the bedroom tax to be a reasonable focus of her attention. As special rapporteur (an unpaid role, only filled by someone with specific expertise in the area) one of her responsibilities is to ensure states fulfil their obligations about the right to housing. | |
| The obligation to provide adequate housing means that a government: 1) "undertakes to take steps . . . by all appropriate means" 2) "to the maximum of its available resources" 3) "to achieve progressively" | |
| For some commentators and activists, the "under-occupancy penalty" of the 2012 Welfare Reform Act, breached those obligations laid out in article 2.1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. | |
| Can you do more with this data? | Can you do more with this data? |
| • Download the full spreadsheet • Contact us at data@theguardian.com • Follow us on Twitter • Like us on Facebook | • Download the full spreadsheet • Contact us at data@theguardian.com • Follow us on Twitter • Like us on Facebook |