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'Inadequate, unaffordable, insecure': UK housing's decline and fall 'Inadequate, unaffordable, insecure': UK housing's decline and fall
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The governments of wealthy western countries do not take kindly to having their filthy human rights laundry hung out for all to see by the United nations. It tends to be assumed that poverty and social injustice are the domain of backward developing nations; when they are identified closer to home, as the UN rapporteur Rachel Rolnik has done in her measured report on Britain's housing (or as the UN rapporteur on food did last year in a report on food poverty in Canada), it provokes a storm of official outrage and denial.The governments of wealthy western countries do not take kindly to having their filthy human rights laundry hung out for all to see by the United nations. It tends to be assumed that poverty and social injustice are the domain of backward developing nations; when they are identified closer to home, as the UN rapporteur Rachel Rolnik has done in her measured report on Britain's housing (or as the UN rapporteur on food did last year in a report on food poverty in Canada), it provokes a storm of official outrage and denial.
Hence Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps' blustering attack on Rolnik's preliminary report as "an absolute disgrace". It is uncomfortable reading for the Coalition when Rolnik concludes that "housing deprivation is worsening in the United Kingdom" but this is not in itself a hugely shocking finding; there is nothing in this report - devastating though it is - that will surprise the hundreds of thousands of British people stuck in barely affordable, low-quality, insecure homes, or who find themselves struggling with the bedroom tax.Hence Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps' blustering attack on Rolnik's preliminary report as "an absolute disgrace". It is uncomfortable reading for the Coalition when Rolnik concludes that "housing deprivation is worsening in the United Kingdom" but this is not in itself a hugely shocking finding; there is nothing in this report - devastating though it is - that will surprise the hundreds of thousands of British people stuck in barely affordable, low-quality, insecure homes, or who find themselves struggling with the bedroom tax.
Rolnik's approach is framed by international human rights law, to which the UK is a signatory. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (articles one and two) obliges the UK to "take steps to ensure and sustain the progressive realisation of the right to adequate housing." What this means, in essence, is that housing should be accessible, affordable, habitable and secure to all citizens, and that governments bound by the covenant have a positive duty to fulfil these obligations.Rolnik's approach is framed by international human rights law, to which the UK is a signatory. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (articles one and two) obliges the UK to "take steps to ensure and sustain the progressive realisation of the right to adequate housing." What this means, in essence, is that housing should be accessible, affordable, habitable and secure to all citizens, and that governments bound by the covenant have a positive duty to fulfil these obligations.
The UK has been an powerful inspiration to the world in this regard, especially for when it comes to housing the low-paid and vulnerable, says Rolnik. It has a proud history of public housing, and a welfare safety net that is the envy of much of the world. Her conclusion, however, is that this achievement is being eroded and that a once progressive housing policy is going into reverse:The UK has been an powerful inspiration to the world in this regard, especially for when it comes to housing the low-paid and vulnerable, says Rolnik. It has a proud history of public housing, and a welfare safety net that is the envy of much of the world. Her conclusion, however, is that this achievement is being eroded and that a once progressive housing policy is going into reverse:
Increasingly, people [in the UK] appear to be facing difficulties in accessing adequate, affordable, well-located and insecure housing.Increasingly, people [in the UK] appear to be facing difficulties in accessing adequate, affordable, well-located and insecure housing.
This is not just the Coalition's doing, she points out, although it has accelerated the process. For decades, policy has effectively undermined public housing. Milllions of social homes have been sold under Right to Buy, and not replaced. Millions more tenants now find themselves in expensive, insecure often poor quality private housing. Social housing waiting lists are growing, while house building is faltering (meeting less than 50% of annual demand). Across a range of indicators, housing is worse, and more costly, for more people. Rising house prices put ownership out of the reach of millions. Spiralling rents mean low income tenants struggle to keep money aside for fuel and food. Overcrowding is increasing. The markets have failed dismally to meet housing demand.This is not just the Coalition's doing, she points out, although it has accelerated the process. For decades, policy has effectively undermined public housing. Milllions of social homes have been sold under Right to Buy, and not replaced. Millions more tenants now find themselves in expensive, insecure often poor quality private housing. Social housing waiting lists are growing, while house building is faltering (meeting less than 50% of annual demand). Across a range of indicators, housing is worse, and more costly, for more people. Rising house prices put ownership out of the reach of millions. Spiralling rents mean low income tenants struggle to keep money aside for fuel and food. Overcrowding is increasing. The markets have failed dismally to meet housing demand.
All this we know. Where Rolnik's intervention is distinctive, however, is when she moves out of the realm of statistics and gets to the human core of what housing is for, and the role it plays in our lives and communities:All this we know. Where Rolnik's intervention is distinctive, however, is when she moves out of the realm of statistics and gets to the human core of what housing is for, and the role it plays in our lives and communities:
The right to housing is not about a roof anywhere, at any cost, without any social ties. It is not about reshuffling people according to a snapshot of the number of bedrooms at a given night. It is about enabling environments for people to maintain their family and community bonds, their local schools, work places and health services allowing them to exercise all other rights, like education, work, food or health.The right to housing is not about a roof anywhere, at any cost, without any social ties. It is not about reshuffling people according to a snapshot of the number of bedrooms at a given night. It is about enabling environments for people to maintain their family and community bonds, their local schools, work places and health services allowing them to exercise all other rights, like education, work, food or health.
It is unsurprising, then, that Rolnik alights so strongly on welfare reform, in particular bedroom tax. Welfare was not strictly the focus of her visit, but she found it impossible to avoid because of the myriad ways in which it both impacts on the affordability of housing, and undermines family security and communal bonds - a clear erosion, she argues, of the UK's purported commitment to adequate housing.It is unsurprising, then, that Rolnik alights so strongly on welfare reform, in particular bedroom tax. Welfare was not strictly the focus of her visit, but she found it impossible to avoid because of the myriad ways in which it both impacts on the affordability of housing, and undermines family security and communal bonds - a clear erosion, she argues, of the UK's purported commitment to adequate housing.
In this respect, her meetings with tenants affected by the tax, and the stress and fear and misery that it has created, appear to have profoundly affected her.In this respect, her meetings with tenants affected by the tax, and the stress and fear and misery that it has created, appear to have profoundly affected her.
Of the many testimonies I have heard, let me say that I have been deeply touched by persons with physical and mental disabilities who have felt targeted instead of protected; of the grandmothers who are carers of their children and grandchildren but are now feeling they are forced to move away from their life-long homes due to a spare bedroom or to run the risk of facing arrears; of the single parents who will not have space for their children when they come to visit; of the many people who are increasingly having to choose between food and paying the [bedroom tax] penalty.Of the many testimonies I have heard, let me say that I have been deeply touched by persons with physical and mental disabilities who have felt targeted instead of protected; of the grandmothers who are carers of their children and grandchildren but are now feeling they are forced to move away from their life-long homes due to a spare bedroom or to run the risk of facing arrears; of the single parents who will not have space for their children when they come to visit; of the many people who are increasingly having to choose between food and paying the [bedroom tax] penalty.
Of course, the UK, like many other countries, has had to tighten its belt, she says. But it is wrong that under austerity and public spending cuts the poorest citizens should bear the brunt of the financial crisis. Her solutions - immediate suspension of the bedroom tax, proper regulation of the private rented housing sector, and a significant increase in the number of homes to be let at social rents - are anathema to the Coalition.Of course, the UK, like many other countries, has had to tighten its belt, she says. But it is wrong that under austerity and public spending cuts the poorest citizens should bear the brunt of the financial crisis. Her solutions - immediate suspension of the bedroom tax, proper regulation of the private rented housing sector, and a significant increase in the number of homes to be let at social rents - are anathema to the Coalition.
But her analysis of Britain's housing woes is powerful and authentic, and the clarity which sets out the erosion of the UKs record in this respect is both bracingly welcome, and shaming.But her analysis of Britain's housing woes is powerful and authentic, and the clarity which sets out the erosion of the UKs record in this respect is both bracingly welcome, and shaming.
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