The Fight for Dignity How One Woman Is Tackling the Lack of Flooring in Social Housing

The Fight for Dignity: How One Woman Is Tackling the Lack of Flooring in Social Housing

When Pia Honey, a 55-year-old from St Albans, extended her home in 2021, she was stunned to learn that her excellent carpets would be thrown away. The builders planned to dispose of them despite being in excellent condition. Pia, however, couldn’t stand the idea of her carpets ending up in a landfill, so she decided to give them away on Facebook. What began as a small act of kindness sparked a more significant movement that would change the lives of hundreds of social housing tenants.

The response was overwhelming. Three families, all single parents living in social housing with no floor coverings, quickly took the carpets. Each family had faced the same problem: when moving into their homes, they found the council had removed the previous carpets. It was then that Pia realized the scale of the issue. In 2021, she founded No Floor No More, a community interest company that provides second-hand carpets to needy families.

Why Are Social Housing Tenants Often Left with Bare Floors?

The issue of flooring in social housing is far more widespread than many realize. Despite the importance of having a warm and safe home, most social housing properties are handed over with minimal or no flooring. According to recent surveys, three-quarters of new social housing tenants report moving into properties with no or only partial flooring.

“The lack of flooring is not just an inconvenience—it’s a serious issue of dignity,” says Pia. “When people are rehoused, the least they should expect is to have floors in their homes. It’s a basic need.”

The problem goes beyond the lack of comfort and has profound emotional and psychological impacts. Many tenants feel embarrassed to invite others into their homes, which can deepen feelings of isolation and stigma. The absence of flooring creates a less safe and less comfortable living environment for families with children or individuals with health conditions.

What Does Missing Flooring Mean for Tenants' Well-Being?

For social housing tenants, missing flooring means more than just bare floors. The absence of carpets and linoleum often leads to cold, uncomfortable living conditions, especially in winter. For families with young children, the lack of flooring is a significant concern for health and safety. Babies cannot crawl freely without exposure to potentially harmful dirt, and toddlers risk getting cold and ill from the bare floors.

The psychological toll is also significant. “We’ve heard stories of children feeling embarrassed to invite friends over because of the bare floors,” says a spokesperson from the Longleigh Foundation, an organization that supports social housing tenants. “It’s not just a physical issue; it’s an emotional one, too.”

The lack of flooring can exacerbate health issues for tenants with respiratory conditions or those using wheelchairs. Dust and debris from bare concrete or wooden floors make it harder to keep the home clean and warm, often resulting in higher energy bills to make the space livable.

How Is Pia's Initiative Changing Lives?

In response to the widespread need, Pia began collecting second-hand carpets from various sources, including high-end retailers, conference venues, and film sets. Her goal was simple: to make sure every family had proper flooring.

“I started by contacting carpet fitters for offcuts,” Pia explains. “I wanted to help, so I collected what I could and passed it on cheaply. Over time, it just snowballed, and I began receiving more carpets than I could have ever imagined.”

The carpets are sold at dramatically reduced rates, with all proceeds going back into the No Floor No More initiative. While Pia still uses personal savings to fund the project, she remains driven by her belief in the cause.

“I know this is a battle worth fighting,” Pia says. “But for now, I’m happy to carry the financial load because I believe in what I’m doing.”

How Has Pia's Work Impacted the Lives of Social Housing Tenants?

No Floor No More has been a game changer for tenants like Sidony West. Sidony, a mother of three who moved to a new housing association property in 2022, had lived without flooring for over two years. After escaping an abusive relationship, she was rehoused but faced the challenge of living in a cold, bare apartment.

“I was told I’d be charged £1,200 if I left my old flooring behind, even though it was in perfect condition,” Sidony recalls. “The place I moved into had no carpets at all. My children were freezing, and the energy bills were rising because I had to keep the house warm.”

Sidony finally secured carpets for her new home through Pia’s initiative. With help from a local carpet fitter, Sidony’s family now enjoys the warmth and comfort they had been missing for years.

“I can’t even explain what it felt like to have carpets laid down,” Sidony says. “After the fitter left, we ran up and down the stairs to check out our new carpets. It made such a difference.”

Why Are Social Housing Policies Still Struggling to Address Flooring Needs?

Despite the growing awareness of the issue, policies regarding flooring in social housing still need to be consistent. Housing associations and councils have historically removed flooring between tenancies for hygiene or wear and tear, but in many cases, excellent carpets are discarded rather than reused.

Neal Wylde, a social housing tenant in Norfolk, has experienced firsthand the challenges of living with bare concrete floors. “When I moved in, the floors were just concrete,” Neal recalls. “I use a wheelchair, and the dust from the concrete left tire tracks everywhere. It was cold, and it didn’t feel like a home. It felt like I was squatting.”

Neal’s housing association, Orbit, claims it removes carpets only when damaged or deemed unfit for reuse. However, Neal believes the practice is wasteful, especially when excellent carpets are discarded.

“Why rip up excellent carpets and send them to landfill?” Neal says. “The floors were fine when I moved in. It’s just wasteful and doesn’t help the next tenant.”

Could National Policy Be the Key to Solving the Flooring Crisis?

There has been some movement at the policy level in response to the outcry over missing flooring in social housing. In Wales, a new law will take effect in April 2024, requiring all social landlords to provide “suitable and quality flooring” in all new social housing lettings.

This policy change directly results from tenant campaigns, such as one led by the tenant engagement group TPAS Cymru. The hope is that this new law will set a precedent for the rest of the UK, where the issue of missing flooring remains a significant concern.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” says Aileen Edmunds, chief executive of Longleigh Foundation. “But this needs to be implemented across the UK. If landlords can’t afford to provide flooring, they should at least stop ripping up excellent carpets. Give the next tenant the choice.”

Conclusion: How Can We Restore Dignity to Social Housing Tenants?

Pia Honey’s mission continues to grow, and several families benefit from her work. Through No Floor No More, Pia is not only providing a practical solution to a long-standing issue but is also advocating for a fundamental change in how social housing tenants are treated.

“Everyone deserves to feel at home,” Pia says. “And the very least we can do as a society is ensure people have floors to walk on. It’s about restoring dignity and helping families thrive.”

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