Modernising homes

Achieving Decent Homes Targets

The Government has set a minimum standard called the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) to ensure that all social housing is wind and weather tight, warm and has modern facilities. The Government expects that all social housing will meet this standard by 2010. Although the standard sets out the minimum that tenants can expect in their homes it may not include all the tenant’s priorities for improvement.

The Comprehensive Performance Assessment says that Council homes are "in good order", that we have a "robust and regularly updated" knowledge of the condition of the stock and "a clear and resourced programme" to meet the Decent Homes Standard by 2007.

To inform our thinking on the Standard we commissioned a housing stock survey in 2000/01. The 15% survey covered every house type and age to give a clear picture of the repairs and improvements needed, projected for 30 years, and to identify non-Decent homes. The original surveyors updated the Survey in 2004. This exercise has been independently validated by Ridge and Partners, Surveyors, who are specialists in this field.

At April 2004, there were 440 non-Decent Homes. We aim to achieve the Decent Homes Standard by April 2007 (three years ahead of the Government target) for all our homes with the exception of approximately 20 that we estimate will not be brought up to the DHS because tenants refuse improvements. Works are planned to reduce year on year the number of existing non-Decent homes, and to carry out works to prevent homes becoming non-Decent.