THE DECENT HOMES STANDARD – WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND HOW DOES MUIR WORK TO IT?
THE Decent Homes Standard ensures we provide homes to be happy in – reaching the Government standard for housing associations.
It’s important because it sets the standard for how we maintain your home.
Our Customer Commitment says how we ‘Look after your home,’ ‘Care about you’ and ‘Care about your safety’.
It’s something that goes beyond the Decent Homes Standard while ensuring we meet Government and Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) requirements.
We regularly do Stock Condition Surveys to help us understand the condition of Muir homes as we work hard to keep you safe and maintain properties you can be proud of.
What is The Decent Homes Standard?
To meet the Decent Homes Standard, a housing association home must:
· Meet the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) minimum safety standards for housing (The HHSRS assesses 29 housing hazards and the effect each may have on the health and safety of residents).
· Be in a reasonable state of repair
· Have reasonably modern facilities and services
· Have efficient heating and effective insulation
A home fails the Decent Homes Standard if it doesn't meet all four criteria.
The Decent Homes Standard also helps us uphold the Safety and Quality aspect of the Regulator of Social Housing’s Consumer Standards, available here: www.muir.org.uk/consumer-standards
How does Muir work to ensure your home reaches the Decent Homes Standard?
The Stock Condition Surveys we do are carried out by qualified surveyors. The surveys help us understand the condition of your home, so we can invest appropriately.
We also perform regular checks as part of our Compliance responsibilities, such as gas and electric servicing.
It’s important to allow us access when we contact you to do Stock Condition Surveys and Compliance checks. They help us look after your home and keep you safe.
You can learn more about our Compliance responsibilities here: www.muir.org.uk/responsibilities
What we say…
“Our Customer Commitment demonstrates our commitment to providing homes residents can be proud of, which continue to meet and go beyond the Decent Homes Standard,” Nik Evans, Muir’s Assistant Director of Asset Management said.
“Information collected from Stock Condition Surveys help inform our investment in things like new fire safety measures and ensure Muir homes ‘go greener’ by making them even more energy efficient as we commit to Net Zero, while fulfilling our Health and Safety Compliance responsibilities.”
Where can I learn more about Muir’s Customer Commitment?
Learn more about our Customer Commitment here: www.muir.org.uk/our-customer-commitment
Where can I learn more about the Decent Homes Standard?
You can learn more about the Government’s Decent Homes Standard for Housing Associations here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-decent-home-definition-and-guidance