What Is It?
The Decent Homes Standard is a government benchmark that sets out the minimum quality a home should meet to be considered safe, warm, and well-maintained. Thrive Homes follows this standard to ensure your home is comfortable, secure, and in good repair.
A home that meets the standard must:
- Be free from serious health and safety hazards
- Be in a reasonable state of repair
- Have modern facilities (like kitchens and bathrooms)
- Provide adequate heating and insulation
- Be protected from damp and mould
What This Means for You
At Thrive Homes, we’re committed to meeting—and where possible, exceeding—the Decent Homes Standard. This means:
- Safe and secure homes from the moment you move in
- Regular inspections and improvement works to maintain quality
- Support for repairs and upgrades where needed
If your home doesn’t meet the standard, we’ll work with you to put things right.
Why It Matters
Living in a decent home isn’t just about bricks and mortar—it’s about your health, wellbeing, and peace of mind. By meeting the Decent Homes Standard, we help ensure:
- Your home is safe and free from hazards
- You have reliable heating and insulation
- Your living space is modern, functional, and energy-efficient
This supports better health, lower energy bills, and a more comfortable living environment for you and your household.
Component Replacement Timescales
To maintain quality and safety, Thrive Homes uses guideline lifespans for key components in your home. These are based on national standards and subject to validation surveys to assess actual condition. These timescales are indicative only. Actual replacement may happen sooner or later depending on condition, safety assessments, and results from our regular Stock Condition Surveys.
Kitchen
Bathroom
Boiler
Windows
External doors
Roofs
Electrics
Stock Condition Surveys: Why Access Matters
To keep your home safe and up to standard, Thrive Homes carries out Stock Condition Surveys every five years. These surveys help us assess the age and condition of key components like kitchens, bathrooms, boilers, and windows.
Giving us access for these surveys is essential — it allows us to:
- Plan future upgrades and replacements
- Identify issues before they become serious
- Ensure your home continues to meet the Decent Homes Standard
We’ll always give you notice before a survey and work with you to find a convenient time. Your cooperation helps us keep your home in good condition and ensures you benefit from planned improvements.
Most Thrive Homes properties already meet or exceed the standard. If you’re unsure or have concerns, contact us and we’ll arrange a check or inspection.
We’ll work with you to put things right—this could include repairs, upgrades, or improvements to heating, insulation, or safety features.
No. Any work required to bring your home up to the Decent Homes Standard is covered by Thrive Homes.
We carry out regular inspections and use Stock Condition Surveys to assess your home’s condition and plan any necessary improvements.
Please report it to us as soon as possible. These issues are taken seriously and are part of the Decent Homes criteria we aim to meet.
If your home is identified for planned works following a Stock Condition Survey or inspection, we’ll contact you directly with details. You’ll be kept informed about what’s planned, when it’s happening, and what to expect.
Visit the GOV.UK website for full details on the standard
See how Thrive Homes applies it on our Home Standard page
Learn more about our Planned Maintenance programmes here