Statistical Release: English House Condition Survey 2006

Published	30 January 2008

The 2006 English House Condition Survey Headline Report was published today (30 January).

The report includes the following highlights;

the number of non-decent homes across England was reduced by 3 million from 1996 to April 2006
progress for improving non-decent homes has been fastest in the social sector with a reduction of 1.2 million non-decent social homes over this period - the housing conditions of vulnerable households (those in receipt of means tested or disability related benefits) in the private sector also improved considerably with 400,000 fewer living in non-decent homes than in 1996
from April 2006 the Housing Health and Safety Rating System came into force and replaced the fitness standard as the statutory element of the decent homes standard - under this new definition there are 1.3 million social sector non-decent homes and 1.4 million private sector vulnerable households living in non-decent homes
some 4.8 million homes (22 per cent) have category 1 hazards as assessed under the new HHSRS - in the private sector 4.2 million homes (24 per cent) have category 1 hazards present compared to 500,000 (13 per cent) in the social sector
the energy efficiency of homes has improved from an average SAP rating of 42 in 1996 to 49 in 2006 - social sector homes are on average much more energy efficient than those in the private sector (57.4 compared to 46.8 respectively) and are improving at a faster rate
the survey also found that over two thirds (70 per cent) of the current housing stock has an energy efficiency rating of 'D' or 'E' based on Energy Performance Certificate banding - less than 10 per cent achieve a rating of 'C' or higher while a fifth of homes are in the most energy inefficient bands of 'F' or 'G'
some 3.4 million (16 per cent of) households live in poor quality environments - around 1.2 million of these households also live in non-decent homes

Notes to editors

1. The English House Condition Survey (EHCS) is a long standing survey (run since 1967) that monitors the changing condition and energy efficiency of housing in England.

2. Today Communities and Local Government has published the '2006 Headline Report'.

3. More detailed findings from the 2006 survey will be published in the 2006 Annual Report in the summer.

4. The 2006 results are based on fieldwork carried out April 2005 to March 2007. The results are based on a random achieved sample of 16,670 dwellings, comprising a detailed physical inspection of the dwelling (including an assessment of its immediate environment), and an interview with the householder.

5. For the first time homes have been assessed using the more comprehensive Housing Health and Rating System (HHSRS), replacing the fitness standard as the statutory element of the decent homes standard. The Government's decent homes standard requires homes to meet the statutory minimum standard, be in a reasonable state of repair, have modern facilities, and to have adequate levels of insulation and an effective heating system to ensure the home can be kept warm.

6. The HHSRS is a risk assessment process which looks at the likelihood of an incident arising as a result of the condition or layout of the property and the likelihood of a harmful outcome. This approach allows the assessment to be geared to the individual circumstances of each case based on the risks of occupants most vulnerable to the hazards. Assessments are based on the most vulnerable potential occupant, not the current occupiers. This may lead to cases where homes are considered to have a "category 1"(serious) hazard, even though no members of the household are actually at serious risk.

7. The survey is also used to assess the overall energy efficiency of the housing stock using the Government's Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) which rates the energy efficiency of the home for space and water heating on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the most efficient.

8. An Energy Performance certificate is a key component of a Home Information Pack (HIP). The certificate provides a (SAP-based) rating for the home, showing its energy efficiency on a scale from A-G (where A is the most efficient and G the least efficient). Under the European Union directive 2002/91/EC all housing (and other buildings) is required to have an Energy Performance Certificate by 2009. See www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk for more information.

9. The 2006 Headline Report is available at: www.communities.gov.uk/ehcs