EDM 679: Furniture poverty in social housing

That this House recognises the problem of furniture poverty; notes that 6 million people in the UK are living without basic furniture; understands that the problem is particularly serious in the social rented sector with 2.3m social housing tenants lacking three or more essential items; acknowledges that only 2% of social housing properties are currently let as furnished or part-furnished compared to 29% in the private rented sector; believes in the importance of increasing the supply of homes for social rent but that a proportion of these homes must be offered to tenants furnished to reduce the levels of furniture poverty that exist across the UK; further believes this would help to provide stable accommodation for those fleeing domestic violence, helping to improve education outcomes for children and also helping to improve health outcomes; and calls on the Government to amend the Decent Homes Standard to ensure that at least 10% of all social homes be made available as furnished properties.