Keep Cornwall Carpeted Petition Launched to Ensure Decent Flooring in Social Housing

This petition supports the Keep Cornwall Carpeted campaign we initiated in collaboration with local food banks to halt the unnecessary removal of carpets between tenancies and highlight the critical impact this issue has on communities across Cornwall and beyond.

A survey by Resident Voice Index in summer 2023 found that over three quarter of social Housing tenants had no or partial floor coverings in their home at all when they moved in. With 33,000 social housing properties across Cornwall, the absence of carpets from social housing units has far-reaching consequences for new tenants moving in.

Zack, who rents a property in Falmouth, said: “My new flat had concrete floors covered in very thick dust when I moved in, and I didn’t realise just how much carpet would cost. I spent more than £1,000 - half of my savings - carpeting the property and spent four months on rations to pay off the debt.”

In January 2024, Wales passed a regulation that new social lets must come with flooring included. In England, the current national Decent Home Standard policy is outdated and does not address this critical issue.

Sam Willians, Campaign and Community Organising Manager at Transformation Cornwall, said: “It does not make sense that people on the lowest incomes, sometimes those who have fled domestic violence or overcome homelessness, are required to pay for carpeting their let. Through my work with foodbanks, I was astonished to find out how common it is for social housing tenants to live with exposed floors. We believe that everyone deserves a warm and safe home. This is why we are launching this petition, calling on Cllr Monk to urgently collaborate with Cornwall Housing and other registered social housing providers to ensure that all properties let in Cornwall have sufficient carpets and floor coverings before new tenants move in.”

By law, social housing properties are only required to have floor coverings in kitchens and bathrooms, and most social housing providers require vacating tenants to pull up their carpets and flooring no matter their condition. Often, nails and staples are left protruding, increasing the risk of injuries for individuals and families moving in. Carpets also provide essential insulation, helping to keep homes warm and reducing heating costs. Without them, properties become damp and mouldy, tenants face higher energy bills and colder living conditions. This, in turn, leads to increased health issues and a greater reliance on foodbanks.

By signing and sharing our petition, you are taking a stand against the unfair burden placed on social housing tenants to carpet their homes. Your support will help us push for a change in policy, ensuring that all social housing properties in Cornwall are let with sufficient carpets and floor coverings.

Support our campaign, and sign the petition today!