The concept of Decent Homes was introduced in 2000 with the Green Paper “Quality and Choice, A Decent Home for All”. In 2004 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now the DCLG) published “A Decent Home, the definition and guidance for implementation” which explains how all RSL's are required to comply with the Decent Homes standard by the end of December 2010. This is part of the wider national strategy for neighbourhood regeneration and delivering mixed sustainable communities. According to the guidance, a Decent Home
- meets the statutory minimum standard for housing
- is in a reasonable state of repair
- has reasonably modern facilities and services
- provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort
This definition has been recently updated to reflect the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) introduced in 2006. To meet the statutory minimum standard a home has to be free from serious hazards as defined by the HHSRS.
Tor Homes has introduced Decent Homes compliance into the Maintenance Plan and undertakes a rolling stock condition survey in order to assess the maintenance requirements for compliance.
