The report focuses on three of the government’s policy areas:

It is found that housing conditions have improved and the number of non-decent homes has reduced since1996. The proportion of homes failing to meet the thermal comfort criterion energy has fallen since 1996, while the efficiency rating of housing stock has improved.

The housing conditions of vulnerable households living in the private sector are compared with those living in the private rented sector. Social tenants and vulnerable households living in the private sector are more likely to live in non-decent homes, however the gap is closing.

There has been no significant change in the proportion of households living in poor quality environments. Living conditions of households in districts supported by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund are compared with those elsewhere.

The report aims to measure the progress made in meeting the government’s targets for decent homes, liveability and the quality of the local environment, and deprivation.

The data from the 2005 English House Condition Survey were compared with those from earlier surveys in 1996, 2001, 2003 and 2004. The results are based on a sample of 16,670 dwellings and 16,059 households.

The analysis identifies key significant changes in living conditions and housing standards, but caution is required in drawing conclusions from the detailed tables as some of these changes are not statistically significant.

Communities and Local Government
Eland House, Bressenden Place
SW1E 5DU London
Contactus@communities.gsi.gov.uk

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01/01/2007

Communities and Local Government

research

Urban Policy > Housing

Housing quality