Home improvements

The 'Decent Homes' standard

We must make to sure that every Parkway Green home meets the government's 'Decent Homes' standard.

This says that all homes must be: fit to live in, be in a reasonable state of repair, have reasonably modern facilities and services, and be warm and weatherproof.

Around half of Manchester's former council homes didn't meet this standard. We have completed our £90 million programme to ensure all our properties meet this standard. If you initially did not want the improvement work done, but have now changed your mind, please contact the investment team on 0161 946 6350.

So what are the standards a home must reach?

Fit to live in

A property fails the standard if it has a serious problem like being structurally unstable, unhealthy water, health-threatening damp, no suitable toilet, bath or shower. These were problems many years ago, but nowadays very few homes would fail to meet this standard.

Reasonable state of repair

A home fails the decent homes standard if it is not in a 'reasonable' state of repair. This happens if: its bathroom is at least 40 years old and its kitchen at least 30 years old - and the facilities in both rooms are in poor condition. Or if it has certain other problems - such as old walls in poor condition, an old roof in poor condition, poor electrical wiring. BUT the Parkway Green promise goes much further - you'll have a new bathroom and new kitchen if yours are at least five years old.

Reasonably modern facilities

A property fails the decent homes standard if it does not have 'reasonably modern facilities'. This happens if three or more conditions from a specific list apply: like the bathroom and toilet both being in unsuitable locations; or the only toilet not having a hand washbasin; or a communal entrance area in a block of flats being too small and poorly laid-out.

Warm and weatherproof

A property fails the decent homes standard if it has an inefficient heating system or ineffective insulation.

Much higher standards for Parkway Green tenants

Remember, the Parkway Green improvements go much further than these standards in several areas. For example you'll have a new kitchen and bathroom if yours are at least five years old - much better than the decent homes standard's 30 year and 40 year cut-off point. See Parkway Green promise.