What is the Decent Homes Standard ?

“A decent home is one that is wind and weather tight, warm and has modern facilities.”

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Less than half of Wolverhampton City Council homes in the city currently meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard and many millions of pounds need to be spent improving homes over the next six years. 

In 2000, the Government brought in new rules about the quality of the homes which tenants rent from councils. 

The rules were brought in because the Government believes all council tenants have the right to live in a home that meets a certain standard. The Government has said that all councils must bring their homes up to this standard by 2010.

A home should:

• be in a reasonable state of repair
• be warm
• meet current legal housing standard
• have reasonable modern facilities and services which means:
  • a kitchen that is no more than 20 years old
  • a kitchen with adequate space and layout
  • a bathroom that is no more than 30 years old
  • an appropriately located bathroom and toilet
  • adequate noise insulation
  • adequate space and layout in common areas of flats

Under the Government standard, a home is still classed as ‘decent’ if it meets four of the points above.

The Council carried out a stock condition survey and found that less than half of its 26,000 homes met the Decent Homes Standard. That is why the Council consulted with tenants and leaseholders on the various options for getting extra money before deciding that setting up Wolverhampton Homes would be the best way to secure millions of pounds extra for improving homes now and for the future.