The Decent Homes Standard (DHS) is a set of housing quality standards established by the UK government for social housing in England. It was introduced in 2000 by the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The purpose of DHS is to ensure that all social housing meets certain minimum standards of decency, safety and comfort.
DHS consists of three elements that must be met for a home to be deemed “decent”. These are:
• The home must be in a reasonable state of repair, meaning it should not be in a condition that is likely to cause health and safety risks or a rapid deterioration in condition.
• The home must have reasonably modern facilities and services, including an adequate heating system, a kitchen and bathroom that are in good working order, and enough electrical sockets.
• The home must provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort, meaning it should be energy efficient and have an adequate level of insulation