Decent Homes Standard

In January 2026, the government confirmed the New Decent Homes Standard.

We welcome the proportionate and pragmatic approach the government has taken in reaching final decisions on the new standard. While it will require additional investment from housing associations, the lead-in period before the new requirements come into force will allow landlords to identify, plan and undertake the work required in their homes. It will enable housing associations to prioritise urgent work needed to keep residents safe in their home as well as balancing broader maintenance and improvement works with continued investment in building much needed new social homes

Further detail of new requirements will be developed and clarified by the government in forthcoming guidance. We will work closely with officials as this guidance is developed.

We will also work closely with the government on ongoing work to support greater provision of floor coverings for social tenants.

From 2035, all social housing must meet the following requirements

Criterion A – A home must be free of the most dangerous hazards

Homes must be free of ‘category 1 hazards’ under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). This criterion remains unchanged. The HHSRS itself remains under review – the government committed in January 2026 to take the final legislative steps needed to complete this review. What constitutes a category 1 hazard will not be changed.

Criterion B – A home must be in a reasonable state of repair

Homes will fail this criterion if:

• One or more key building components is not in a reasonable state of repair.
• Two or more other building components are not in a reasonable state of repair.

Age has been removed as a consideration in this criterion, so components will only be assessed on the basis of their condition.

Criterion C – A home must provide core facilities and services

To meet this criterion, flats must provide at least three of the following facilities:

• A kitchen with adequate space and layout.
• An appropriately located bathroom and WC.
• Adequate external noise insulation.
• Adequate size and layout of common entrance areas for blocks of flats.

To meet this criterion, houses must provide at least two of the following facilities:

• A kitchen with adequate space and layout.
• An appropriately located bathroom and WC.
• Adequate external noise insulation.

Homes must also be equipped with child-resistant window restrictors, which can be overridden by an adult, on all windows which present a fall risk for children.

Criterion D – A home must provide thermal comfort

Homes must meet the requirements of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard. They must also have a primary heating system which is programmable by residents and capable of heating the whole home. There are specific exemptions on the requirement for heating systems to be programmable by residents where needed for resident safety, e.g. in some forms of supported housing.

Criterion E – A home should be free of damp and mould

Landlords should ensure their residents’ homes are free from damp and mould – any home with a damp and mould hazard assessed within bands A to H of the HHSRS would fail this criterion. The government will set out in subsequent guidance circumstances where landlords can’t or shouldn’t meet some aspects of the standard, which we expect will acknowledge factors which are outside landlords’ control such as overcrowding.