The head of a national trade body has called on the UK Government to clarify whether its new Social Housing Bill will provide protections for Armed Forces personnel and their families.
Stephen Hodgson, Chief Executive of the Property Care Association, has written to Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove MP - who has championed the new Social Housing Bill - and to Tobias Ellwood MP, Chair of the Defence Select Committee.
In the letter, Mr Hodgson asks whether the new Bill will apply to service families, or whether service family accommodation properties will be subject to equivalent regulations through alternative legislation.
Mr Hodgson said: “We welcome the new Social Housing Bill, which aims to improve rented accommodation through the expansion of regulatory powers, enabling tenants to highlight issues and introducing ‘Awaab’s Law’ which sets strict new time limits for action where defects are reported.
“It seems right that those serving with our Armed Forces should have the same rights to action and redress as those living in homes owned and managed by Local Authorities and Housing Associations.
“A quick search online indicates the scale of the problem with a large number of media articles outlining the issues faced by service personnel, including damp and poor maintenance.
“The Social Housing Bill takes great steps towards ensuring improvements for social housing tenants, and we hope to receive assurance that the benefits of the Bill will also extend to Service personnel living in service family accommodation.”
The PCA represents experts in property care from across the UK. For more information about the organisation, or for important advice on mould, condensation and damp, visit: Homeowners - Property Help, Advice & Guidance - PCA (property-care.org)
