Keep Cornwall Carpeted

The campaign was relayed by:

• BBC News: The BBC has shed light on how the removal of carpets is affecting residents in social housing, leading to increased demand for foodbanks. You can read the full article here.

• Premier Christian Radio: Premier Christian Radio has also covered our campaign, emphasizing the broader social implications and the urgent need for action. Their coverage can be found here.

Why This Matters

A survey by Resident Voice Index in summer 2023 found that over three quarter of social Housing tenants had no or partial floor coverings in their home at all when they moved in.
With 33,000 social housing properties across Cornwall, the absence of carpets from social housing units has far-reaching consequences for new tenants moving in.

By law, properties are only required to have floor coverings in kitchens and bathrooms, and most social housing providers require vacating tenants to pull up their carpets and flooring. Often, nails and staples are left protruding, increasing the risk of injuries for individuals and families. Carpets also provide essential insulation, helping to keep homes warm and reducing heating costs. Without them, properties become damp and mouldy, residents face higher energy bills and colder living conditions. This, in turn, leads to increased health issues and a greater reliance on foodbanks.

Zack, who rents a property in Falmouth, said: “My new flat had concrete floors covered in very thick dust when I moved in, and I didn’t realise just how much carpet would cost. I spent more than £1,000 - half of my savings - carpeting the property and spent four months on rations to pay off the debt.”

Julia*, who lives in St Austell, added: “You can hear every little noise through the floor boards. I'm dreading winter. It's going to be freezing.”

Another tenant, John* in Camborne, also described the shame and stigma: “I stopped letting people visit which made me even more isolated and lonely."

What Are We Asking

In January 2024, Wales passed a regulation that new social lets must come with flooring included. Sam Willians, Campaign and Community Organising Manager, said:

“It does not make sense that people on the lowest incomes, sometimes those who had to flee domestic violence or overcame homelessness, are required to pay for carpeting their let. Through my work with foodbanks, I was astonished to find out how common it is for social housing tenants to live with exposed floors. We believe that everyone deserves a warm and safe home. Through this campaign, we want social housing providers in Cornwall to follow the example of the Welsh and provide carpets for new tenants.”

In early 2026 We are seeking to engage with local MPs, councillors and social housing landlords to implement a new standard, available to download here.

We are seeking conversations that open up discussion options, and innovative ways to achieve delivery of this flooring standard.

To Support the Campaign

We encourage everyone to get involved and support our campaign. Here are a few ways you can help:

• Spread the Word: Share our campaign on social media and with your networks. Follow @keepcornwallcarpeted on Instragram and Facebook

• Complete the Questionnaire: Social housing tenants affected can share their experiences anonymously to help us gather evidence by completing our form (see button below).

• Sign our petition

*Names have been changed.

Our Keep Cornwall Carpeted Campaign,

with the support of Trussell Trust, Cornish Foodbanks and other social justice partners is increasingly gaining national media attention, underscoring the urgent need to address the removal of carpets in social housing across Cornwall.

This campaign aims to halt the unnecessary removal of carpets between tenancies and highlight the critical impact this issue has on our community.

Client is due to move into new social housing property but only kitchen and bathroom floor is provided by one of the largest housing associations in Cornwall, at start of tenancy. The client does not have the money to afford the flooring and certain furniture, due to this they are unable to move into the property at the moment due to the fact that it is not suitably furnished. Client and daughter are both on PIP and have health issues. They have a low income and struggling to obtain the funds to move into their new home. There is no help or support, and they are reliant on charitable donations and family members to help with the move.”

Case Studies

The client (cl) has just moved from a 3 bed property to 1 bed, cl is in receipt of UC & cannot afford to buy carpets for new property and is looking for charitable funds to help her. The council do not allow previous tenants to leave carpets or other types of flooring, even though it may be in perfect/good condition. Tenants leaving the property have to arrange for removal or the council will charge them to do so. A new tenant could be asked to sign a waiver to take responsibility for the flooring if they wanted to keep it. Treating a carpet for fleas etc is probably cheaper than buying a new carpet, especially if the existing one is of good quality

This policy is shortsighted, it is not green/environmentally friendly.

This cl is already struggling to manage financially & is in debt. Rates of UC are too low to allow for extra purchases, even more so because cl has deductions from her UC for other debts. Since the cl is freeing up a 3 bedroomed house, which will help a little with current housing crisis, there's a case to be made that the council could give some sort of ex gratia payment/payment in kind, in thanks/appreciation

Cl has had to move due to DV so has little money. Cl viewed a house with decent flooring and the previous tenant said they would leave it for them - which client was pleased about as she couldn't afford flooring. When she moved to the property all flooring was taken the previous tenant explained the key social housing provider would not allow them to leave it - if they did leave it they would charge for removal. This is not a good policy. It is not green. A client could be asked to sign a waiver to take responsibility for the flooring if they want to keep it. The client now has to apply for charity funds to help her provide floor coverings for her young children