Introduction
In July 2000, following its Spending Review, the Government announced a significant increase in resources for housing, especially social housing. As part of its desire to link increased spending to better outcomes, the Government established a target to:
'ensure that all social housing meets set standards of decency by 2010, by reducing the number of households living in social housing that does not meet the standards by a third between 2001 and 2004, with most of the improvement taking place in the most deprived local authority areas'
What is a Decent Home? - a summary of the definition
A decent home is one which is wind and weather tight, warm and has modern facilities. It reflects what social landlords should spend their money on. To set a national target a common definition of decent is needed so all social landlords can work towards the same goal.
A decent home meets the following four criteria:
1. It meets the current statutory minimum standard for housing.
Dwellings below this standard are those defined as unfit under section 604 of the Housing Act 1985 (as amended by the 1989 Local Government and Housing Act).
2. It is in a reasonable state of repair
Dwellings which fail to meet this criterion are those where either:
- one or more of the key building components are old and because of their condition,
- need replacing or major repair; or two or more of the other building components are old and because of their condition, need replacing or major repair.
3. 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.
4. It provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort
This criterion requires dwellings to have both effective insulation and efficient heating.
- For dwellings with gas/oil programmable heating, cavity wall insulation (if there are cavity walls that can be insulated effectively) or at least 50mm lost insulation (if there is loft space) is an effective package of insulation; and
- For dwellings heated by electric storage heaters/LPG/programmable solid fuel central heating a higher specification of insulation is required: at least 200mm of loft insulation (if there is a loft) and cavity wall insulation (if there are cavity walls that can be insulated effectively).
Position of Babergh District Council
It is Babergh District Council's intention to comply with the Standard for all its properties by April 2009. Allowances have been made in the Council's Housing Business Plan to ensure the target can be met within this timescale.
Detailed below is the Council's past and future targets, with regards to complying with the Standard:
- At April 2004 - 55% of BDC homes passed
- At April 2005 - 62% of BDC homes passed
- Target for April 2006 - 78% of BDC homes will pass
- Target for April 2007 - 85% of BDC homes will pass
- Target for April 2008 - 92% of BDC homes will pass
- Target for April 2009 - 100% of BDC homes will pass
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