The government’s Decent Homes programme will suffer a lack of funding in the coming years as a result of budget cuts, council documents seen by the Hackney Post reveal.
This could mean that vital maintenance work on the interior of properties goes uncompleted.
Jacque Collins has received help through the programme. Photo: Katie Linsell
The programme, which has been running since 2006 and originally aimed to improve all council housing in the borough by 2012, will have £18.9m less funding than previously indicated.
Before the government spending cuts were implemented, it was anticipated that approximately £80.4m would be spent on the project over the next four years. Now that figure has been reduced to £61.5m – 23.5 per cent lower than thought.
A spokeswoman for Hackney Homes said: “The sum is much less than originally anticipated and as such, we will have less resources to carry out Decent Homes works than were planned.
“We are currently reviewing the outstanding decent homes work and we will write to residents to advise them about how work in their home might be affected.”
The Decent Homes programme aims to make homes wind and watertight, with reasonably modern kitchens and bathrooms installed.
It also pledges to replace roofs, wiring and kitchen and bathroom fixtures if they are in poor condition, or more than 30 years old.
With less funding, the programme will now only be able to cater for those with external housing issues, such as weak roofs and brickwork.
This year £15.8m will be spent on Hackney Homes rather than the £17.7m previously allocated.
Jacque Collins, 55, has lived in Cherbury Court, Hoxton, for more than 40 years and received help from the Decent Homes programme to mend her flat’s leaking roof and loose brickwork.
During the winter months Ms Collins was forced to put buckets down to catch leaks from the ceiling and on two occasions she found chunks of cement had fallen from the walls.
She said: “It’s not the residents’ fault that funding has to be cut. The council has to find the money somewhere because we’ve upheld our part of the contract by paying our taxes regardless of the state of our homes. Now they must carry out the work they promised.”
The Homes and Communities Agency, which allocates funding for the project to different London boroughs, has acknowledged there is already a backlog of homes waiting for improvements.
A spokesperson said: “The programme is based on value for money, need and the level of non-decency. Funding is located accordingly.”
