What is the Decent Home standard?

All landlords, including White Horse Housing Association, have to ensure their homes meet a minimum level of condition as set out in the national Decent Homes Standard. This says, a decent home is one, which is “wind and weather tight, warm and has modern facilities”.

The standard helps us to prioritise what we should spend our money on and what programmes of work are required in future years. For example, kitchen and bathroom replacements etc. The Decent Homes Standard includes a common definition of what a ‘decent home ’ should look like so all social landlords can work towards the same goal.

Therefore, to be classed as ‘Decent’ every home must meet the following criteria;

1. It must meet the current statutory minimum standard for housing as set out in the Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS);
2. It is in a reasonable state of repair;
3. It has reasonably modern facilities and services;
4. It provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort;
5. It must have both effective insulation and efficient heating.

A home lacking ‘two or less’ of the following is still classed as decent.

• A reasonably modern kitchen (20 years old or less);
• A kitchen with adequate space and layout;
• A reasonably modern bathroom (30 years old or less);
• An appropriately located bathroom and WC;
• Adequate insulation against external noise (where external noise is a
• problem);
• Adequate size and layout of common areas for blocks of flats.

There are some ‘exceptions’ to the standard. These include:

1. If a tenant does not wish for works to be undertaken their home can still be classed as ‘decent’ provided White Horse Housing undertakes the works when the property next becomes empty. White Horse Housing would not normally insist on major works being undertaken unless major health and safety issues were a factor.
2. Where are property is listed or within a conservation area and the work required is not possible or allowable;
3. Where the work requires disproportionate levels of ‘expenditure and disruption’ and is therefore not practical.

We believe we have achieved the required Decent Homes Standard across all of our homes and it will continue to do so into the future. We have excellent data on the condition of all our homes and have future plans for the repair and replacement of each component included within the standard.

However, if you have any questions over the condition of your home, or believe your home does not meet this standard, then please contact us on 01380 850916.