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A report published by the Welsh Assembly Government shows that the vast majority of the 221,000 homes owned and managed by Housing Associations and local authorities will achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) by the deadlines given.
86% of Housing Associations working towards the original 2012 deadline will have brought their properties up to the required standard, while 98% of Housing Association Homes will meet the standard by 2016/17.
87% of local authority homes are set to meet the standard by 2012/13 excluding those going to ballot and those whose tenants have voted 'no'. Some authorities are either in the process of balloting their tenants on stock transfer or plan to do so in future, and are therefore not in a position to predict a date for the completion of the necessary work.
The report shows the significant progress being made to improve housing standards in Wales compared to the 2008 Living in Wales property survey which found that only 6% of social housing met the standard.
The WHQS is an ambitious target for social landlords to improve their existing homes and the environments around them that was published by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2002.
Welcoming the report, the Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration said: "There has been a great deal of activity related to achieving the WHQS and I am confident that all social landlords are working hard to achieve the best result for their tenants. Their efforts are to be commended and encouraged and I am delighted that the work is also providing job and training opportunities across Wales.
"However, there remains a lot of work to be done. Good quality homes are a platform from which tenants can step up towards better health, better opportunities and better lives, which is why I have fought to ensure that this is still a priority for the Welsh government and that the budget for this important area is protected. I look forward to seeing all housing stock in Wales being brought up to a standard that means people can live in comfortable, warm and secure homes."
(CD/KMcA)
