Wales Audit Office report: Progress in delivering the Welsh Housing Quality Standard

The Auditor General for Wales’ report Progress in delivering the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, which published in January 2012.  The report examined whether landlords had made good progress to improve the quality of social housing in line with the requirements of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS). The Welsh Government introduced the WHQS in 2002 as a minimum standard for homes and set a target that all social housing should comply with the WHQS requirements by the end of 2012.

The core elements of the WHQS are that homes:

• Are in a good state of repair;
• Are safe and secure;
• Are adequately heated, fuel efficient and well insulated;
• Contain up-to-date kitchens and bathrooms;
• Are well managed (for rented housing);
• Are located in attractive and safe environments; and
• As far as possible suit the specific requirements of the household, for example, catering for specific disabilities

The Auditor General’s report notes that from the outset, the Welsh Government has identified the wider benefits that could flow from work to achieve the WHQS. These included job creation and area regeneration, as well as improved health, well-being, safety and security. Enhanced tenant consultation and participation in housing management were also seen as important outcomes. The report concluded that many tenants have seen substantial improvements in the quality of their housing, although the original aim that all social housing would achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) by 2012 will not be met. The report also concluded that the Welsh Government has not acted swiftly enough to support and monitor progress and has not put an effective framework in place to demonstrate value for money from the significant investment that is planned to achieve the WHQS.

The Public Accounts Committee undertook an inquiry into the WHQS which examined:

• Achievements in delivering the WHQS against targets
• Weaknesses in the Welsh Government’s leadership and monitoring
• The future of the WHQS