Social housing quality data collection, Welsh Government
Contact email
stats.housing@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Designation
National Statistics
Lowest level of geographical disaggregation
Local authorities
Geographical coverage
Wales
Languages covered
English only
General description
The WHQS was first introduced in 2002 and aims to ensure that all dwellings are of a good quality and suitable for the needs of existing and future residents. The Welsh Government set a target for all social landlords to improve their housing stock to meet the WHQS by the end of 2012 (since re-defined as by the end of 2012-13) or other renegotiated deadlines.
The WHQS was first published in 2002 with revised guidance issued in 2008. The Welsh Government expect all social landlords in Wales to adopt the standard and bring all their homes up to it by the end of 2012 (since re-defined as by the end of 2012-13) or by other renegotiated deadlines and to maintain this into the future. The WHQS measures 42 individual elements within the following seven categories: o In a good state of repair o Safe and secure o Adequately heated, fuel efficient and well insulated o Contain up-to-date kitchens and bathrooms o Well managed (for rented housing) o Located in attractive and safe environments o As far as possible suit the specific requirements of the household (e.g. specific disabilities).
The information shown in this release does not cover all of the 42 individual elements as social landlords were not required to report on Category 6 of the WHQS (Located in attractive and safe environments) which was regarded as too difficult to measure consistently.
Quality information 1. For the purposes of this collection, stock to be assessed is defined as all self-contained properties, including bedsits, under the headings of general needs, sheltered, other supported and extra care as provided in the annual stock return for each social landlord. 2. Social Landlords were asked only to include those properties meeting all of the elements of WHQS apart form the environmental standard (as outlined in Part 6 of the 2008 WHQS revised guidance) in table 1 of the data collection return. In table 2 of the data collection return social landlords were asked for the number of properties complying with 10 components. The compliance numbers in table 2 will generally be higher than those given in table 1, as properties may comply with a subset of the elements without necessarily complying with them all. 3. The WHQS is an interpretive standard and there are many situations where full compliance with the standard on individual components has not been possible for social landlords due to the cost effectiveness of the work (for example making structural changes to the home to increase internal space), where residents exercise choice (for example where they don't want a bath and a shower in their bathroom) or where there are physical constraints to the work. In these cases landlords were instructed to record an 'Acceptable Fail' against that individual component. An 'Acceptable Fail' is only possible on individual components and not the dwelling as a whole.
Data collection and calculation
The information presented here measures the progress made by social landlords (local authorities and registered social landlords) in achieving the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) for all their stock. The WHQS is the Welsh Government standard of housing quality.
The data collection commenced in July 2012 and is used to assess the number of social housing dwellings which are fully compliant with the WHQS as at 31 March and those which are compliant subject to acceptable fails. The information collected covers overall WHQS compliance with the standard as well as compliance with the WHQS by individual component type.
Users, uses and context
Please find this information in the related statistical publication, as per the given weblink.
Rounding applied
None
Revisions information
Data prior to the last period covered have been revised since previously published. Revisions are marked in the data with an (r).
Statistical quality
Please find this information in the related publication, as per the given weblink.
Compliance with Welsh Housing Quality Standard components by provider and measure
