When Kassie and her three children moved into their new social housing property in Halifax, they were dismayed to find bare and uneven floorboards throughout the house. The home, deemed ready for occupancy, had no carpets or floor coverings in the bedrooms or living areas, a situation that reflects a broader issue affecting many tenants. Landlords in England are not legally obligated to provide floor coverings, though there are discussions about potentially changing this law.
To assist families in similar situations, charities such as the Noah’s Ark Centre have initiated projects to supply free carpets to those in need. After Kassie’s move, she sought help from the Centre, which arranged for a fitter to install new carpets at no cost. Andrew Sykes from the Noah’s Ark Centre highlighted that while private landlords often provide carpets, social housing landlords typically do not, as they are only required to furnish flooring in kitchens and bathrooms.
The lack of carpets is widespread, with campaign group End Furniture Poverty estimating that over 1.2 million homes in the UK lack adequate flooring in key areas. The government has solicited feedback on plans to mandate that all social housing landlords provide floor coverings and intends to respond “in due course.”
Kassie, who had faced a no-fault eviction from her previous home, expressed the emotional toll this situation has taken on her. Despite her efforts to find affordable carpets, the costs were prohibitive, prompting her to rely on community support. Following the installation of a carpet in her son’s room, Kassie expressed relief and gratitude, stating it made the house feel more like a home.
Emma Glasbey contributed to this report as the BBC’s Yorkshire home and social affairs correspondent.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewnj99j15no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss