PFD report

Colin Waterhouse · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 7 May 2024•Manchester South

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

View original report
Concerns
4

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
8

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised4

  1. Insufficient support-service capacity to assist palliative care patients to move to alternative accommodation
    Part of recurring concern: Failure to secure timely suitable alternative accommodation for vulnerable people
  2. Digital alternative-accommodation bidding process failing to provide accessible access
  3. Severe shortage of available alternative social housing
    Part of recurring concern: Failure to secure timely suitable alternative accommodation for vulnerable people
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.8

  1. Action

    Introduce Awaab’s Law in the social rented sector by bringing forward secondary legislation.

    Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 14 May 2024.
  2. Action

    Set out future Government investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review.

    Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 14 May 2024.
  3. Action

    Create over 2,000 affordable homes through the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund.

    Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 14 May 2024.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.1

  1. Position

    Local authorities and housing associations are responsible for assisting applicants who struggle with bidding and preventing unlawful discrimination.

    Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Insufficient support-service capacity to assist palliative care patients to move to alternative accommodation

Wider context from the report

“The inquest heard evidence that the social housing where Mr Waterhouse lived was such that it was impacted his overall health and wellbeing after his terminal cancer diagnosis. It was recognised that his housing was impacting his mental wellbeing but the support services available to him (as a palliative care patient) did not have the resources/capacity to assist him in moving to alternative accommodation for the last few months of his life. The evidence was that because he lived in social housing he had to bid for alternative accommodation. The bidding process was digital and he struggled to manage that. In addition even if he made a bid the chances of success was extremely slim given the huge demand for property. The inquest was told as an illustration that the Housing Association that he was a tenant of had 35,000 properties but a waiting list of 17,000. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Failure to secure timely suitable alternative accommodation for vulnerable people.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Digital alternative-accommodation bidding process failing to provide accessible access

Wider context from the report

“The inquest heard evidence that the social housing where Mr Waterhouse lived was such that it was impacted his overall health and wellbeing after his terminal cancer diagnosis. It was recognised that his housing was impacting his mental wellbeing but the support services available to him (as a palliative care patient) did not have the resources/capacity to assist him in moving to alternative accommodation for the last few months of his life. The evidence was that because he lived in social housing he had to bid for alternative accommodation. The bidding process was digital and he struggled to manage that. In addition even if he made a bid the chances of success was extremely slim given the huge demand for property. The inquest was told as an illustration that the Housing Association that he was a tenant of had 35,000 properties but a waiting list of 17,000. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Severe shortage of available alternative social housing

Wider context from the report

“The inquest heard evidence that the social housing where Mr Waterhouse lived was such that it was impacted his overall health and wellbeing after his terminal cancer diagnosis. It was recognised that his housing was impacting his mental wellbeing but the support services available to him (as a palliative care patient) did not have the resources/capacity to assist him in moving to alternative accommodation for the last few months of his life. The evidence was that because he lived in social housing he had to bid for alternative accommodation. The bidding process was digital and he struggled to manage that. In addition even if he made a bid the chances of success was extremely slim given the huge demand for property. The inquest was told as an illustration that the Housing Association that he was a tenant of had 35,000 properties but a waiting list of 17,000. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Failure to secure timely suitable alternative accommodation for vulnerable people.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Social housing adversely affecting residents’ health and wellbeing

Wider context from the report

“The inquest heard evidence that the social housing where Mr Waterhouse lived was such that it was impacted his overall health and wellbeing after his terminal cancer diagnosis. It was recognised that his housing was impacting his mental wellbeing but the support services available to him (as a palliative care patient) did not have the resources/capacity to assist him in moving to alternative accommodation for the last few months of his life. The evidence was that because he lived in social housing he had to bid for alternative accommodation. The bidding process was digital and he struggled to manage that. In addition even if he made a bid the chances of success was extremely slim given the huge demand for property. The inquest was told as an illustration that the Housing Association that he was a tenant of had 35,000 properties but a waiting list of 17,000. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Introduce Awaab’s Law in the social rented sector by bringing forward secondary legislation.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We will also engage with the sector and set out more detail in the autumn on our plans to raise standards on quality, and strengthen residents’ voices. We are committed to introducing Awaab’s Law to the social rented sector, and will set out more detail and bring forward the secondary legislation to implement this in due course. Further details on my announcement can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/housing-targets-increased-to-get-britain-building-again.”

Source location

Response from DLUHC
Page 4 · response
Published 14 May 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Set out future Government investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review.

Verbatim wording from the response

“On 30 July, I set out our first steps in this Government’s plan to build the homes this country needs and to deliver on our commitment to the biggest growth in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. We will set out details of future Government investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review, so that social housing providers can plan for the future and help deliver the biggest increase in affordable housebuilding in a generation.”

Source location

Response from DLUHC
Page 3 · response
Published 14 May 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Create over 2,000 affordable homes through the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund.

Verbatim wording from the response

“To further empower and enable councils to build their own stock of affordable homes, I also confirmed £450 million investment in councils across England under the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund. This will create over 2,000 affordable homes for some of the most vulnerable families in society, including families currently living in cramped and unsuitable bed and breakfasts.”

Source location

Response from DLUHC
Page 4 · response
Published 14 May 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Test whether more can be done to support developments focused predominantly or exclusively on affordable tenures, particularly Social Rent.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In the first instance, this Government’s aspiration is to ensure that, in the first full financial year of this Parliament (2025-26), the number of Social Rent homes is rising rather than falling. I have also set out a clear expectation that housing needs assessments must consider those requiring Social Rent homes, and that local authorities should specify their expectations on Social Rent delivery as part of broader affordable housing policies. This includes testing whether there is more that could be done to support developments that are predominately or exclusively affordable tenures, in particular Social Rent.”

Source location

Response from DLUHC
Page 3 · response
Published 14 May 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Set expectations that housing needs assessments consider households requiring Social Rent homes and that councils specify Social Rent delivery expectations.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In the first instance, this Government’s aspiration is to ensure that, in the first full financial year of this Parliament (2025-26), the number of Social Rent homes is rising rather than falling. I have also set out a clear expectation that housing needs assessments must consider those requiring Social Rent homes, and that local authorities should specify their expectations on Social Rent delivery as part of broader affordable housing policies. This includes testing whether there is more that could be done to support developments that are predominately or exclusively affordable tenures, in particular Social Rent.”

Source location

Response from DLUHC
Page 3 · response
Published 14 May 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Engage with the housing sector and set out plans to raise housing quality standards and strengthen residents’ voices.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We will also engage with the sector and set out more detail in the autumn on our plans to raise standards on quality, and strengthen residents’ voices. We are committed to introducing Awaab’s Law to the social rented sector, and will set out more detail and bring forward the secondary legislation to implement this in due course. Further details on my announcement can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/housing-targets-increased-to-get-britain-building-again.”

Source location

Response from DLUHC
Page 4 · response
Published 14 May 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Increase councils’ flexibility to use Right to Buy receipts for replacement affordable homes, including combining receipts with section 106 contributions.

Verbatim wording from the response

“More immediately, we have increased the flexibilities on how councils can use their Right to Buy receipts. The Government has removed the caps on the percentage of replacements delivered as acquisitions and the percentage cost of a replacement home that can be funded using Right to Buy receipts, and councils have been given the ability to combine Right to Buy receipts with section 106 contributions. These flexibilities will be in place for an initial 24 months, subject to review.”

Source location

Response from DLUHC
Page 4 · response
Published 14 May 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Provide £450 million through the Local Authority Housing Fund to support councils in delivering affordable homes.

Verbatim wording from the response

“To further empower and enable councils to build their own stock of affordable homes, I also confirmed £450 million investment in councils across England under the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund. This will create over 2,000 affordable homes for some of the most vulnerable families in society, including families currently living in cramped and unsuitable bed and breakfasts.”

Source location

Response from DLUHC
Page 4 · response
Published 14 May 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Local authorities and housing associations are responsible for assisting applicants who struggle with bidding and preventing unlawful discrimination.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Accessibility of Social Housing bidding process Under the statutory framework, local authorities must provide any assistance necessary, free of charge, to enable people who would have difficulty to make an application. This is also reflected in social housing allocations statutory guidance which is issued to local housing authorities.”

Source location

Response from DLUHC
Page 3 · response
Published 14 May 2024

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

  1. 1

    Local authorities determine policies governing applicants’ choice of social housing and opportunities to express accommodation preferences.

    Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Local authorities determine policies governing applicants’ choice of social housing and opportunities to express accommodation preferences.

Verbatim wording from the response

“By law, local authorities are required to include in their allocations schemes a statement of the authority’s policy on offering a choice of accommodation or the opportunity for applicants to express preferences about the accommodation to be allocated to them. It is for local authorities to determine their policy on providing choice or the ability to express preferences.”

Source location

Response from DLUHC
Page 2 · response
Published 14 May 2024

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026