The government has set a standard to judge the quality of housing called the Decent Homes Standard. The standard lays down that a home should be warm, weatherproof and have reasonably modern facilities.
Details of the standard are set out below. A home is decent if it meets the following criteria:
a) It meets the current statutory minimum standard for housing
Dwellings below this standard are those that have category one hazards present as defined in part 1 of the Housing Act 2004.
b) It is in a reasonable state of repair
Dwellings which fail to meet this criterion are those where:
- One or more of the key building components are old and, because of their condition, need replacing or major repair
- Two or more of the other building components are old and, because of their condition, need replacing or major repair
c) It has reasonably modern facilities and services
Dwellings which fail to meet this criterion are those which lack three or more of the following:
- 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
A home lacking two or less of the above is still classed as decent therefore it is not necessary to modernise kitchens and bathrooms if a home passes the remaining criteria.
d) It provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort
This criterion requires dwellings to have both effective insulation and efficient heating.
The role for EHPs lies in the target to reduce the proportion of vulnerable households living in non-decent homes. EHPs working in local authorities are working to achieve this target by using policies which involve a range of assistance, advice and encouragement to homeowners and using enforcement powers only as a last resort. It also involves developing a close relationship with other partnerships and policies. Key partners for local authorities are Home Improvement Agencies.
Other work by EHPs involves developing and implementing renewal strategies to bring areas of poor housing up to the Decent Homes Standard. This is achieved by a combination of financial assistance programmes and enforcement action where appropriate.
Vulnerable households have been defined as those in receipt of at least one of the principal means tested or disability related benefits including income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit etc.