Letter: Decline in number of unfit dwellings
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.Sir: It is disappointing that your report of 22 June, on the Preliminary Report of the latest English House Condition Survey ('Not fit to live in'), gave a misleading impression about the change in the condition of the English housing stock between 1986 and 1991, by failing to take account of the introduction in 1990 of a new higher fitness standard.
What the English House Condition Survey 1991 actually shows is that there was a welcome decline in the number of unfit dwellings between 1986 and 1991, whether measured against the fitness standard in force in 1986 or against the standard introduced in 1990 under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
Under the old standard, 753,000 dwellings were unfit in 1991 compared with 909,000 in 1986; under the new standard, 1.456 million dwellings were unfit in 1991 compared with 1.643 million in 1986.
The real picture is of improvement in housing conditions. This is good news and should be reported as such.
Yours faithfully,
STRATHCLYDE
Under-Secretary of State
Department of the Environment
London, SW1
23 June
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments