More than 100 Buckinghamshire social homes below standard

Data from the Regulator of Social Housing show private social housing providers were aware of 120 homes across the county that did not meet requirements as of March. 

In total, there were 2.9 million private social homes in England at the time – 33,200 of them in Buckinghamshire.

These were part of 1,176 homes not up to standard across the South East. 

Across England, there were 42,000 private social homes that did not meet the standard in the year to March with half a million buildings inspected. 

READ MORE: Bucks housing list criteria tightened to cut down list

Of the unfit properties, 37,500 were brought up to standard, while 1,800 were sold or demolished.

A further 5,200 buildings were excluded from having to meet the requirements, for reasons such as tenants not wanting improvement works to go ahead.

Combined with existing figures on homes not meeting the DHS, this means more than 13,000 homes across the country were not up to scratch as of March.

Data also shows that private providers only surveyed around 20 per cent of stock over the course of the year – meaning the true number of sub-standard homes is likely much higher.

Social Housing Action Campaign has said there is "no excuse for such poor standards" of social housing, adding that this has a cost to the economy. 

A spokesperson for the Regulator of Social Housing said all social landlords have a duty to provide safe, decent places to live for tenants, and should put things right when they do not.

They added a new remit to proactively inspect landlords should drive long-term improvements, and are "working intensively" with landlords that have failed to meet standards.

But a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said they are taking action to make sure homes are "decent and safe".

In October the Government confirmed it was looking to extend the Decent Home Standards to private rentals.