  OVER 6 MILLION HOMES IN ENGLAND ALONE ARE CLASSIFIED AS NON-DECENT
Our mission is:“to encourage a vibrant modernisation and renovation
market in the private and social housing sectors, both to improve
the housing stock and the business opportunities for members.”
We’ve helped to turn housing around
It’s more than 30 years since the National Home Improvement Council
was launched when Britain’s housing stock was in a very, very
sad state. Over the years we have campaigned, lobbied and raised
the roof on renovation and helped to turn housing around!
But there is still much to be done and new challenges to address,
such as the reducation or elimination of VAT on home improvements,
the demographic demands of an increasing population, energy efficiency
and carbon emissions, fuel poverty and the housing requirements
of a burgeoning senior population.
In fact, home and environmental improvement is never ending!
As a member of the NHIC you can make a real contribution to the
future development of the nation’s homes and help stimulate business
in your own field of expertise.
The task ahead
Our total UK housing stock is around 25 million and amongst the
oldest in Europe. Millions of them have already been around for
100 years and, probably, will still be providing roofs over people's
heads in 2100.
Although there's a significant improvement on a decade ago, in
England alone there still remains 6.3 million homes way below
par and classified as nondecent.
What's more, 5.1 million of them are private sector homes. And,
on a pro-rata basis, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are
no better off! It is estimated that it could cost £50 billion
to bring them all into line.
It's a well known fact that over the next decade or so at least
4.5million new households will be created which will need appropriate,
modern accommodation. Building new houses is never going to meet
the demand but by changing, renovating and improving existing
properties there is a good chance that the demand could be met,
without interfering with the green belt.
Throughout the UK there are some 700,000 premises including extra
large houses, hotels, pubs, churches, chapels and even multi-storey
offices that are ready and waiting to take on a new role and provide
much needed housing, economically and efficiently. There are thousands
of brownfield sites too that have vast housing potential.
Up to ten years ago there was very little commitment to saving
energy, consequently 95% or more of our housing stock is inefficient
and uneconomical to run. It contributes about 30% of our nation's
carbon dioxide emissions which is considered to be the main greenhouse
gas creating global warming. So there is a mammoth job to be done
to ensure all of our homes are properly insulated and energy efficient
using high-tech heating systems and renewable energy sources.
Another major improvement priority is meeting the special needs
of people with mobility problems plus the fact that as none of
us are getting younger, within 40 years, a third of the UK population
could be over 60!
Housing has to adapt to meet these challenges. Through its members
the National Home Improvement Council is up to the task ahead
and continues to strive towards maintaining the highest possible
housing standards for today and, even more important, tomorrow
as well!
Hillworth Lodge, Keighley, West Yorkshire, was a workhouse for
the poor but is now the hub of a vibrant urban village.
Our objectives
To be the home improvement industry's principal interface with
government, opposition and Whitehall, ensuring that housing policies
and substantial public funding are directed at home and environmental
improvement and fuel poverty issues.
To encourage Government to entirely eliminate VAT or set it at
the lowest possible rate for all home improvements and products.
To promote to private sector homeowners the benefits of renovating
and maintaining their homes to the highest possible standards
of energy efficiency and repair, in order to keep carbon emissions
to a minimum.
To act as the catalyst for social sector housing bodies to further
stimulate modernisation of the existing housing stock.
To encourage private investment in housing renovation and environmental
regeneration.
To support and encourage the highest possible standards of workmanship
and service throughout the home improvement industry.
We seek
The continuing release of capital receipts to fund home improvements
in both the social and private housing sectors.
An increase in funding of discretionary grants to reduce the number
of unfit private sector dwellings.
The introduction of a scheme to bring back into use for housing
purposes the thousands of empty offices, redundant shops and other
buildings, plus the conversion of older or larger domestic properties
into flats and multiple units.
The alteration and installation of home facilities to fulfil the
requirements of the 'third age' and people with mobility problems.
The furtherance of greater consumer protection and the promotion
of members' guarantees and warranties.
Special financial arrangements for people on low or limited incomes
to encourage them to improve their properties so that they can
enjoy the full benefits of a modern, efficient and affordable-to-run
home.
Our political links
It is a vitally important ingredient of the NHIC's ongoing brief
to progress and maintain close links with all the relevant government
departments concerned with housing and development, the environment,
and trade and industry.
We liaise and consult with our President, Rt Hon Nick Raynsford
MP, Past President, Lord Ezra, and Vice President, Baroness Maddock,
to provide the very latest information and briefing material for
questions in both Houses of Parliament. The NHIC also endeavours
to establish and maintain a high level of contact with all Members
of Parliament and civil servants who influence the present and
future status of UK housing.
The NHIC is frequently invited to put up representatives on appropriate
committees. Also we arrange Parliamentary briefings and lunches
when members and their guests have the opportunity to raise specific
issues.
Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP
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Baroness Maddock |
Spreading the word
As the industry's mouthpiece, a particularly vital function of
the NHIC is to spread the important word about home and environmental
improvement issues across both the private and social housing
sectors. So it is essential that we maintain the closest possible
relationship and co-operation with every facet of the media, at
the highest possible level.
We quickly respond through press releases to all the current relevant
matters of the day, setting out precisely the NHIC's comments
and criticisms on Government's or any other official policy-maker's
regulations or opinions affecting and influencing our industry
and its important work.
The NHIC's free advice and recommendations are frequently sought
by broadcasters, tv programme makers and special supplement editors,
when they are seeking inspirational and aspirational new ideas
to pass onto viewers and readers alike. Whenever possible we will
also tailor articles and features to meet a specific editorial
requirement.
We are also invited by radio and tv to provide spokespersons for
live or recorded programmes where there is a public interaction.
One of our most popular and well respected services that has been
provided for well over 30 years, are the NHIC's twice-yearly press
packs, now in CD form, which have mailed to all the national daily
and regional newspapers, plus weekly journals and radio stations.
Appropriately, a pack is released to coincide with spring and
autumn when private sector homeowners especially should be seriously
considering what to do or what not to do to their homes in order
to keep them well maintained to an acceptable standard. The press
packs usually contain well over a dozen specially written generic
articles setting out the very latest ideas and suggestions for
keeping a home and its surroundings in tip top condition. There
are also important key contributions and illustrations from many
of the NHIC's member companies.
The likelihood is that most of the DIY articles appearing in the
press throughout the year have emanated from our highly respected
CD press packs.
PRESTIGIOUS ANNUAL AWARDS
Our renowned Annual Awards scheme spans over three decades. Each
year it grows more successful than the last.
Indeed, it is widely acknowledged as the UK's premier housing
event and is highly regarded by everyone concerned with home and
environmental improvements.
The Awards are a veritable showcase of the very best initiatives
and achievements that are so much a characteristic of our nation's
remarkable ingenuity in the field of housing renovation and local
rehabilitation. Each year there are at least ten Award categories
embracing virtually every facet of housing. They are carefully
reviewed every twelve months to ensure they keep pace with the
changing face of housing and remain truly representative of the
very broadest activities of local authorities, housing associations,
private landlords and developers, housebuilders, building companies,
contractors, architectural practices and other representative
bodies, kitchen specialists, designers and specifiers.
The Awards are generously sponsored by a number of the NHIC members.
A representative panel of judges assess the submissions; and the
presentations are made to the winners and runners up, usually
by a Government minister, at an Awards luncheon at a prestigious
London venue.
Our Journal
Progress is our official journal. It aims to keep abreast of the
sector's principal developments by researching and publishing
authoritative news and editorials on a whole raft of relevant
topics ranging from renewable energy technologies to fuel poverty
and current renovation projects to successful completed ones.
All NHIC members are encouraged to supply their own information
to be considered for inclusion in Progress.
It has a readership of around 4,000 top level chief executives
and department directors in local authorities and housing associations.
It is also read by selected UK housebuilders, developers, private
landlords as well as Government ministers and Members of Parliament.
How it all works
By joining the NHIC, manufacturers and organisations can make
a vital contribution to home improvement and energy efficiency
and, at the same time, place their own products and services firmly
in the private and social housing sectors.
The NHIC is a company limited by guarantee of £1 per member. All
members are automatically on the Council and eligible to vote
specific members onto the Board, which is responsible for the
NHICís progress and development. The President is Rt Hon Nick
Raynsford MP. The Chairman, Vice Chairman and other officers are
appointed from the Board.
There is an Executive Director who handles the NHIC's day-to-day
running and members are encouraged to keep him fully informed
with their comments, ideas and suggestions.
The Executive Director circulates a monthly newsletter providing
members with the current status of the home improvement market
and relevant political information. Council meetings are held
every quarter when all members have the opportunity to exchange
views and comments and hear briefings from prominent people involved
in the private and social housing sectors.
There is also a Marketing Committee which determines the NHIC's
promotional, communications and PR strategies. There are other
committees set up to deal with specific issues such as Government
policy on VAT.
For further information and details about becoming an NHIC Member,
please contact:
Roman M Russocki, Executive Director,
NHIC, Roofing House, 31 Worship Street, London EC2A 2DY
Tel: 020 7448 3853 Fax: 020 7256 2125
Email: info@nhic.org.uk
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