Social Housing

Value flooring for today’s social housing

Currently it is estimated 80% of social homes are rented to tenants without floor coverings. That situation is changing in Wales with the Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2023 Draft stating ‘at change of tenancy, all habitable rooms, staircases and landings should have suitable floor coverings’, but in England (Decent Homes Standard) and Scotland (Scottish Housing Quality Standard), there are no such standards applied to flooring within homes.

While the majority of social housing landlords are not under regulatory pressure as yet, there is growing evidence in reports like Floored (TPAS Cymru and Tai Pawb) and the ongoing The Provision of Floor Coverings in Social Housing (Altair and the Longleigh Foundation), that the impact of no floor coverings on tenants is damaging and that regulations are in need of change. Tenants will often struggle to purchase floor coverings for their property and many will end up living on bare floors for months, years or throughout the entire tenancy.

A respondent in the Floored survey summarised the negative impact a lack of flooring has on their life:

“I am forever grateful for our home, but I was shocked at the lack of basic necessity and safety when it came to the floors. I am too embarrassed to let visitors in or let the children have playmates to socialise. The stress affects us all. Especially when I see them hurt themselves and I have to tell them not to walk certain areas in each room.”

Currently, providers have a range of strategies, but the majority will remove flooring from properties as a matter of course – primarily because of concerns with ongoing maintenance and health and safety – with some partially replacing flooring depending on the new tenant’s means or occupational therapy assessment. Many state it is too expensive to replace carpets and flooring between tenancies. A few might gift existing flooring by mutual agreement with the tenant.

Sheet vinyl flooring for social housing

Carpets account for nearly 50% of floors used in social housing, but they are not an ideal solution for providers. Sheet vinyl can eliminate many of the problems encountered with carpet that are faced by providers, such as infestations. They are also easy to maintain and durable, and easier to assess for condition. Sheet vinyl is also a cost-effective solution that can help to minimise expenditure on flooring. It is also easier to install than other smooth floorcoverings often chosen in social housing – like laminate – again helping to drive down cost.

Providing sheet vinyl flooring can help to improve affordability for the tenant and research also shows that properties with a void standard that includes flooring will stay empty for less time, see a lower refusal rate and tenants are more likely to stay longer. Also, according to the Housing Insecurity and Mental Health in Wales report (UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence and Mind Cymru), if people take pride in their homes, they are more likely to pay their rent.

With good levels of comfort and insulation, sheet vinyl flooring also has several advantages for the tenant. Being easy to clean ensures a longer life and it is available in a wide range of natural looking designs that help them to feel relaxed. The floor can also be chosen in slip-resistant finishes in bathrooms, or for tenants with mobility issues and it provides a comfortable, warm and quiet social housing floor.

 Why choose Beauflor sheet vinyl flooring?

Made in Belgium, Beauflor sheet vinyl flooring offers an attractive finish across a wide range of popular natural looks with benefits for the developer and tenant alike. For the housing association, it’s cost-effective, fast to install and durable helping to deliver value throughout its life cycle. Tenants benefit from a homely and comfortable floor that’s hygienic, easy to maintain, safe to walk on and which has the potential to support their feeling of wellbeing.

Cost-effective and fast to install

In many domestic rooms our floors can be laid without glue, cutting down on material costs and time. The benefits of fast installation are made even more apparent in floors that feature a textile backing, such as our Blacktex Collection. These can be installed loose lay in areas up to 35m2 over a range of substrates, including tile and timber floors. This also makes them a good choice for refurbishment.

Durable and easy to maintain

The construction of our vinyl floors makes them durable, with the thickness of wear layer determining the longevity of the floor in use. For example, our most hardwearing floor Xtreme, is still cost-effective but has a Class 34 rating, making it suitable for heavy commercial use. Our collections suitable for social housing also feature a Premium Coating low maintenance finish. it extends the durability of the floor and helps to ensure a longer life before replacement. For the tenant, the floor is easy to clean using water and mild detergent.

Safe and hygienic

The low slip nature of our sheet vinyl floors creates a safer environment for tenants. This is particularly important where reduced mobility needs to be considered. Our floors provide a surer feeling underfoot, while also allowing the easy passage of wheelchairs thanks to a smooth finish. We offer R11 finishes suitable for domestic and public use.  As well as being easy to clean, many of our collections are equipped with an anti-bacterial and anti-mould treatment that makes them more hygienic.

Speak to our team

Our UK-based team can help you to develop a sheet vinyl flooring specification for your social housing. They will work with you to identify the flooring needs and develop a specification of Beauflor sheet vinyl floors to provide a cost-effective and durable solution that plays its part in a safe, good quality home.