Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A third of privately rented homes in England are in such a bad condition that they fail basic decency standards, according to research.
Analysts from the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) applied the Government’s test for social housing to properties rented privately and found 33 per cent would fail it, revealing the squalid conditions faced by many tenants.
The “Decent Home Standard” is used to decide if social housing is suitable to live in. A home fails if it is unsafe, not in a reasonable state of repair or too cold to be comfortable. Just 15 per cent of social rented homes failed to meet this standard in 2012, down from 29 per cent in 2006.
CIH’s chief executive, Grainia Long, said: “The Government has focused on measures to boost home ownership, but with more and more people living in the private rented sector – including more older people, more families with children and more vulnerable people from the housing waiting list – it’s vital that we look carefully at new ways to raise standards.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments