Briefing: Crib sheet - Respect housing standard

Have all the elements of the Respect Action Plan been followedthrough?

Some of the parenting and community measures are included within theEducation Bill and the Police and Justice Bill. But there's quite a bitthat sits outside legislative reform. For instance, the Government iscurrently consulting on the idea of establishing a respect standard forhousing management.

What, for everyone, no matter where they live? The standard can onlyreally apply to social housing, although the paper is at pains to referto private-sector tenancies and owner-occupiers where it can.Statistically, there is some justification for focusing on the needs ofpoorer communities.

Just how does the Government define "respect"? In one paragraph sayingthat everyone should be considerate of the needs of others, while in thenext claiming that definitions aren't really necessary since we all knowwhat it means anyway. Housing management refers to individualproperties, but links into neighbourhood safety and community cohesionas well.