Evaluation of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard
Wales,
The Welsh Housing Quality Standard
In 2002, the Welsh Government introduced the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) to raise the physical standard and condition of social housing in Wales. The Welsh Government has been considering the next iteration of the WHQS (WHQS 2.0); what it should include and how it should be monitored. To assist in this process, the Welsh Government commissioned a Summative Evaluation of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard; an independent research project completed by a consortium of Three Dragons, Ulster University and Cyngor Da. A mixed methodological approach underpins the Summative Evaluation, combining a review of the relevant policy literature and analysis of secondary data sources ‒ with some additional qualitative insights elicited from discussions with key Welsh Government staff and a workshop for social landlords.
An important element of WHQS 2.0 will be ensuring support for the Welsh Government’s objectives for decarbonisation. The Summative Evaluation concluded that research points to the need for social housing to achieve a SAP rating of 92 or above (or equivalent measure) through a combination of decarbonised heating systems, fabric enhancement and renewables, the mix of which will be specific to each home.
The full report (published in 2021) can be found at https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/statistics-and-research/2021-06/welsh-housing-quality-standard-summative-evaluation.pdf
