Decent Homes Standard
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The updated Decent Homes Standard sets clear expectations for housing providers and local authorities: homes must be safe, warm, well maintained and free from hazards such as damp and mould.
For procurement teams, delivering these improvements requires reliable suppliers, specialist expertise and compliant routes to market.
NHC Procurement provides a range of procurement frameworks designed to help housing providers and local authorities source the services, works and technology needed to meet the Decent Homes Standard.
Our solutions support housing organisations across the full range of Decent Homes requirements, from stock condition surveys and fire safety to retrofit, energy efficiency and investment works.
Together with the Northern Housing Consortium, we are launching a new Decent Homes Network, exploring how the housing sector can prepare for the new requirements. The network brings together best practice and collective learning, to help you meet your Decent Homes objectives.
If you’re an NHC member, sign up hereHow NHC Procurement supports the Decent Homes Standard
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Criterion A: Homes must be free from the most dangerous hazards
Under the Decent Homes Standard, homes must be free from Category 1 hazards identified under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). These hazards present the most serious risks to resident health and safety and must be identified and addressed quickly.
Housing providers need accurate property data, regular inspections and specialist safety services to maintain compliance.
Our procurement solutions support:
- Stock condition and asset management surveys
- Fire safety systems and compliance works
- Electrical safety inspections and upgrades
- Property cleaning and safety services
These solutions help housing providers identify hazards, maintain safe homes and meet regulatory requirements.
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Criterion B: Homes must be in a reasonable state of repair
To meet the Decent Homes Standard, housing providers must ensure key building components remain in good condition.
Properties may fail this requirement if essential structural or building elements require major repair or replacement. These components include roofs, wall structures, windows, doors, heating systems and internal services.
Maintaining these assets requires proactive investment in maintenance, refurbishment and improvement works.
Our frameworks support procurement teams in sourcing suppliers for:
- Structural repairs and building condition works
- Planned maintenance programmes
- Major refurbishment and investment works
- Decarbonisation and retrofit improvements
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Criterion C: Homes must provide core facilities and services
The Decent Homes Standard requires homes to provide essential facilities that support safe and comfortable living.
These include:
- Adequately sized and functional kitchens
- Appropriately located bathrooms and WCs
- Adequate external noise insulation where required
- Accessible and safe communal areas in blocks of flats
The updated standard also includes additional safety measures, such as child-resistant window restrictors where there is a risk of falls.
Delivering these improvements often requires targeted investment programmes and specialist retrofit expertise.
Our procurement frameworks support housing providers with:
- Kitchen supply and installation programmes
- Retrofit consultancy and building improvements
- Accessibility and communal area upgrades
- Property refurbishment works
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Criterion D: Homes must provide thermal comfort
Ensuring residents can maintain a warm home at an affordable cost is a key element of the Decent Homes Standard.
Housing providers must ensure properties have:
- A heating system capable of heating the whole home
- Heating controls that can be programmed by residents
- Improved energy efficiency in line with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)
For the social rented sector, homes must reach EPC C or equivalent by 2030, with further energy performance improvements required over time.
Meeting these targets will require large-scale retrofit programmes, low-carbon heating upgrades and energy performance improvements.
Our frameworks support procurement teams delivering:
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades
- Renewable energy integration and battery storage
- Energy performance assessments and EPC services
- Whole-house retrofit and decarbonisation programmes
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Criterion E: Homes should be free from damp and mould
The updated Decent Homes Standard introduces a clear requirement for homes to be free from damp and mould.
Housing providers must take both reactive and proactive measures to identify, prevent and resolve damp and mould issues.
This aligns with wider regulatory changes that place greater emphasis on tenant safety and property conditions.
Effective prevention requires accurate asset data, environmental monitoring and improvements to building fabric and ventilation systems.
Our procurement solutions support housing providers with:
- Asbestos, Legionella and Mould management and monitoring
- Stock condition surveys and inspections
- Ventilation and environmental control systems
- Planned maintenance and preventative repairs
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Deliver your Decent Homes programme with compliant procurement
Delivering the Decent Homes Standard requires coordinated investment across building safety, property condition, energy efficiency and resident wellbeing.
With NHC Procurement, procurement teams can access:
• Compliant procurement frameworks
• Pre-approved specialist suppliers
• Sector expertise and procurement support
• Faster routes to market for housing projects
Our solutions help housing providers and local authorities deliver property improvements efficiently while maintaining full procurement compliance.
Explore our procurement solutions and find the right framework for your Decent Homes programme.