Housing standards

A decent home is a home that is warm, weather proof and has reasonably modern facilities.

Government has set decent home standards for both social and private housing.  The council aims to ensure that all housing meets these standards by taking action to resolve any hazards in a property.

  
A property meets decent home standards if it:

• Does not contain a category 1 hazard
• Is in a reasonable state of repair
• Has reasonably modern facilities
• Provides a reasonable degree of warmth

  
Category 1 hazards

Category 1 hazards are those hazards likely to cause death, lung cancer, permanent loss of consciousness or 80% burn injuries.

  
Reasonable state of repair

All key building components (walls, roof, windows/doors, gas installations, electrics) must be in good condition.  No more than one other building component (kitchen, bathroom) may be in poor condition or the home will fail to meet the standard.

  
Reasonably modern facilities

Homes lacking three or more of the following will fail to meet the standard:

• Reasonably modern kitchen (no more than 20 years old)
• Kitchen with adequate space and layout
• Reasonably modern bathroom (no more than 30 years old)
• Appropriately located bathroom and WC
• Adequate noise insulation (where external noise is an issue)
• Adequate size and layout of common areas in a flat
• Provides a reasonable degree of warmth

  
Reasonable degree of warmth

A home is required to have both of the following to meet the standard:

• Efficient heating - programmable central heating system using gas, oil LPG or solid fuel or electric storage heaters
• Effective insulation - min. 50 mm loft or cavity wall insulation for homes with gas or oil heating.  Min. 200 mm loft insulation and cavity wall insulation for homes heated by electric storage heaters, LPG or solid fuel.

Energy Performance Certificates

Landlords must provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to prospective tenants. The certificate rates the energy efficiency of the property and recommends measures (for the landlord to consider) which would improve the rating.

Concerns

If you are concerned about your living conditions, particularly if you are living in rented accommodation, please contact housing.

View further guidance for landlords and advice for tenants.