Making private sector homes decent
The government is aiming at ensuring that 70 percent of vulnerable households are living in decent homes by 2010. These pages explain the definitions of ‘decent’ and ‘vulnerable’.
Energy efficiency and fuel poverty
Poor energy efficiency contributes towards the emission of greenhouse gases, makes homes hard to heat and leads to fuel poverty. The government is aiming at eliminating fuel poverty for vulnerable households by 2010 and for all households by 2016.
SAP – the Standard Assessment Procedure – is an index of energy efficiency in homes. Local Authorities are required to report the proportion of dwellings with a SAP rating of 30 or less each year as an indicator of improving energy efficiency.
These pages explain the definitions of ‘fuel poverty’ and ‘SAP ratings’ that are included in some of the reports available through Hi4em.
Regional and local activity
There are regional, sub-regional and local authority strategies and policies in place to tackle non-decent homes occupied by vulnerable households, increase energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty. In these pages we’ll be building a full picture of of activity towards meeting targets and making the lives of vulnerable households that little bit more comfortable.
As with other areas of the site the content of the ‘Decent Homes’ section is relevant to the geographic level or area you are in.
Disabled Facilities Grants
A Disabled Facilities Grant is a local council grant to help towards the cost of adapting your home to enable you to continue to live there. A grant is paid when the council considers that changes are necessary to meet your needs - and is happy that the work is reasonable and practical.
Warm Front Grants
Warm Front grants are available to make homes warmer and more energy efficient. The grant provides a package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £2,700. Warm Front is a Government funded initiative and is managed by EAGA
Definitions and further information
Decent homes and vulnerable households
Fuel poverty and SAP ratings
Disabled Facilties Grants
Warm Front Grants