Janet Finch-Saunders MS, the Shadow Minister for Housing, has called on the Labour Government to take a tough stance on social housing providers in Wales which have houses that fail to meet the Welsh housing quality standard.
According to the Welsh housing quality standard all social housing must be updated and kept in good condition. To meet the standard, houses must be:
- in a good state of repair
- safe and secure
- adequately heated, fuel efficient and well insulated
- contain up to date kitchens and bathrooms
- well managed (for rented housing)
- located in attractive and safe environments
- where possible, suitable for the specific needs of those living there, such as those with disabilities
Commenting after the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Housing Secretary, announced that the UK Conservative Government is to block failing social housing providers from new housing funding, Janet said:
“I applaud Michael Gove for making clear that social housing providers that fail in their obligations to tenants will not receive a penny of additional taxpayers’ money for new housing until they get their act together.
“Everyone deserves the right to live in safe, decent home, and I know several housing associations who are going above and beyond to deliver.
“In Wales we have a clear housing quality standard. To make sure tenants know their rights and can hold housing providers to account, the Labour Government should launch a public information campaign.
“The cost of compliance can be phenomenal. For example, Swansea Council may need to spend a further £875 million to maintain and meet new standards, twice as much as the council had budgeted for in a 30-year business plan. However, the investment has to be made, the cost of inaction can be life.”
ENDS
Notes:
Government to block failing social housing providers from new housing funding
Welsh housing quality standard
Meeting new housing standards and maintaining current ones could cost this council £875 million
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders AS, Gweinidog Tai yr Wrthblaid dros y Ceidwadwyr, wedi galw ar Lywodraeth Lafur i gymryd safiad cadarn ar ddarparwyr tai cymdeithasol yng Nghymru sy’n berchen ar dai sy’n methu â bodloni safon ansawdd tai Cymru.
Yn ôl safon ansawdd tai Cymru mae’n rhaid i dai cymdeithasol gael eu diweddaru a’u cadw mewn cyflwr da. I fodloni’r safon hon, mae’n rhaid i dai fod:
- mewn cyflwr da
- yn ddiogel a saff
- wedi’u cynhesu’n ddigonol, yn effeithlon o ran tanwydd ac wedi’u hinswleiddio’n dda
- yn cynnwys ceginau ac ystafelloedd ymolchi modern
- wedi’u rheoli’n dda (yn achos tai rhent)
- wedi’u lleoli mewn amgylcheddau deniadol a diogel
- lle bo’n bosibl, yn addas ar gyfer anghenion penodol y rhai sy’n byw yno, fel pobl ag anableddau
Wrth siarad ar ôl i’r Gwir Anrhydeddus Michael Gove AS, yr Ysgrifennydd Tai, gyhoeddi bod Llywodraeth Geidwadol y DU yn mynd i atal darparwyr tai cymdeithasol sy’n methu â bodloni’r safonau rhag cael cyllid ar gyfer tai newydd, dywedodd Janet:
“Rwy’n cymeradwyo Michael Gove am ddatgan yn glir na fydd darparwyr tai cymdeithasol sy’n methu â chyflawni eu rhwymedigaethau i denantiaid yn derbyn ceiniog o arian ychwanegol gan drethdalwyr ar gyfer tai newydd nes bydd eu perfformiad yn gwella.
“Mae pawb yn haeddu’r hawl i fyw mewn cartref diogel ac addas, ac rwy’n gwybod am sawl cymdeithas dai sy’n mynd y tu hwnt i’r gofynion i wneud hynny.
“Mae gennym ni safon ansawdd tai clir yng Nghymru. Er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr bod tenantiaid yn gwybod beth yw eu hawliau ac yn gallu dal darparwyr tai i gyfrif, dylai’r Llywodraeth Lafur lansio ymgyrch wybodaeth gyhoeddus.
“Mae cost cydymffurfio yn gallu bod yn aruthrol. Er enghraifft, efallai y bydd angen i Gyngor Abertawe wario £875 miliwn arall i gynnal a bodloni’r safonau newydd, ddwywaith cymaint ag roedd y cyngor wedi cyllidebu ar ei gyfer mewn cynllun busnes 30 mlynedd. Fodd bynnag, mae’n rhaid buddsoddi, gan y gallai peidio â gwneud hynny arwain at farwolaeth.”
DIWEDD
Nodiadau:
Government to block failing social housing providers from new housing funding
Meeting new housing standards and maintaining current ones could cost this council £875 million
