Decent Homes Standard
What is the Decent Homes Standard and what are its implications ?
In 2000 the Government implemented a measure of general housing conditions known as the Decent Homes standard.
The Government set the standards and targets for local authorities which although not directly charging Landlords as being responsible to upgrade their properties to reach these standards, has by its implications a major impact on those who rent to households which are classed as vulnerable [receiving housing allowances and other benefits after being means tested]. All properties supplied by the Authorities to these households have to reach the Decent Homes standards.
To further explain the implications for Landlords - is that a high percentage of Councils use the private rented sector to house people who are on benefits. At present the private rented sector has by far the lowest percentage of decent homes in all sectors.
The Government in the Decent Homes standard stated that this grade [which will be fully explained below] of dwelling should be supplied to this section of the community by the rented sector:
BY 2006 65%
BY 2010 70%
BY 2020 75%
What are the criteria for a property to comply with the Decent Homes Standard?
1) The property must meet with all of the latest statutory minimum standards for housing.
Under the Housing Health and Safety Rating system, the dwelling should not contain any Category 1 hazards within its premises or surrounding attached areas.
2) The property it is in a good state of repair.
It will not pass the correct standards if ‘one or more’ of the most important parts of the building or ‘key’ components have sufficiently aged and need to be replaced or need to undergo significant repairs. Likewise the same applies for ‘two or more’ key parts of the building structure, which are sub standard through wear and tear and need to be replaced or to undergo major repairs.
3) The property must be fitted with an acceptable range of modern facilities and services.
If the property does not contain three or more of the following facilities then it will fail to meet the requirements.
(i) The bathroom must be appropriately located with a lavatory.
(ii) The bathroom must be no older than 30 years.
(iii) The kitchen must have adequate space and layout.
(iv) The kitchen must not be any older than 20 years.
(v) Common areas of blocks of flats must be of an adequate size and layout.
(vi) The property must have effective insulation and efficient heating; new Green standards of thermal insulation are being introduced and may also mean paying higher local taxes if standards are not met.
(vii) There must be a good level of external noise insulation.
Will there be any funding to help to meet the Decent Homes standard
To ensure that the vulnerable sections of the community are to be housed to this standard, financial assistance will be made available to both landlords, who are providing the homes, or increased levels of financial aid will be paid directly to those households.
There are a number of funded initiatives that are now available to assist and encourage the private sector to achieve the proper standard for their properties which will help to achieve the Government’s targets:
In some areas of the country, the Government is making large amounts of funding available which is directed towards helping vulnerable families housing needs.
The Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC), is where electricity and gas suppliers commit to provide financial help to domestic consumers so that they are able to install energy efficiency measures, a large part of the assistance is offered to vulnerable consumers.
The 'Warm Front' scheme provides grants for heating improvements and insulation; this includes central heating system for vulnerable households in the private rented and owner occupied sectors.
Increasingly local authorities are adopting Housing Renewal Assistance Policies where they make available grants and loans to landlords that are renting properties to vulnerable households.