Tower Hamlets Homes residents to get Decent Homes

Archive News Story: February 2011
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Residents of Tower Hamlets Homes will benefit from over £94.5 million of investment in their homes over the next five years. 

The Decent Homes backlog programme funding allocations were announced by the Government last week. Tower Hamlets, which has one of the highest percentages of homes not ‘decent’, has been awarded the second highest level of investment in the country.  Decent Homes is a national standard which means that all Council and housing association tenants should expect to live in a home that is reasonably modern, warm and water-tight. 

Chief Executive Gavin Cansfield said, “This is a good result for tenants of Tower Hamlets Homes.  Although we haven’t received the full amount we applied for, the money we’ve been allocated means that £1 in every £16 of all Decent Homes money – over £1.5 billion - will be spent in Tower Hamlets.  I’m looking forward to work on the first homes beginning in April.”

In Tower Hamlets, currently 8,926 council-owned properties do not meet the Decent Homes Standard.  The funding will allow Tower Hamlets Homes to bring nearly 80% of these up to modern standards.  The remaining homes will hopefully be funded either through subsequent Government funding, or locally.

Resident Board member, Shamsul Hoque, who lives in Bethnal Green, said about the announcement: “I think this is really good news for Tower Hamlets Homes residents.  Over the next five years, most tenants will receive new kitchens and bathrooms and other works to their homes to make them nicer places to live in.  I know my neighbours will be glad to have works done to their homes after so long.”