Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) 2023

The revised WHQS 2023 was published April 2024 and full details can be found at: Welsh housing quality standard (Welsh Government) (opens new window)

To meet the standard, homes must:

• be in a good state of repair
• be safe and secure
• be affordable to heat and has minimal environmental impact
• have an up-to-date kitchen and utility area
• have an up-to-date bathroom
• be comfortable and promotes wellbeing
• have a suitable garden
• have an attractive outside space

Read more about how we met the standards and our plans for maintaining them Council housing improvements

Other regulations 

Whilst the WHQS is itself a legal requirement, the standard also brings together other legal and regulatory requirements such as the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It also links with the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and the Renting Homes (Wales) Act (Fitness for Human Habitation) 2021.

How will WHQS 2023 be funded?

The funding is provided by a combination of council house rent income and borrowed money. Part of this investment is also given to us as a Major Repair Allowance grant from the Welsh Government.

In 2025/26 we will receive £9,283,000 from the Welsh Government which will be spent on WHQS improvement schemes. This grant helps improve the lives of those who live in council homes as well as providing community benefits. Overall, in 2025/26 we will spend £46m on WHQS improvements.

Welsh Government also support individual programmes with Optimised Retrofit Programme grant funding and funding for fire safety.

More information on the grant support provided by Welsh Government is available on their website: Welsh housing quality standard (Welsh Government) (opens new window)

Compliance

Compliance reporting has been suspended whilst the new standard has been developed. The next compliance figures are due to be reported to Welsh Government in Easter 2025.