Quality area 1: Accommodationd
| Standard | Element | Level (Legal/minimum/best practice) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 1.1 | Element 1.1.2 Staff and residents are considerate of neighbours – external areas are kept clean and safe, and measures are in place to prevent and manage any anti-social behaviour. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.1 | Element 1.1.3 Accommodation is assessed by local council commissioners, referring bodies, and by providers and their partners (e.g. providers of support services), for its suitability in meeting the needs of the specific vulnerable residents being accommodated. The individual’s views and aspirations are sought and considered in the assessment. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.1 | Element 1.1.4 Accommodation is safe and well maintained (Sections 9A – 11 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.1 | Element 1.1.5 Landlords must ensure that their property, including any common parts of the building, is fit for human habitation at the beginning of the tenancy and throughout. | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.1 | Element 1.1.6 Landlords must ensure their property is free of hazards by which is meant any defect which poses a risk of harm to the health or safety of the occupiers. | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.1 | Element 1.1.7 Landlords must keep the structure and exterior of the property in repair and must keep the installations which provide water, gas, electricity, sanitation, heating and hot water, in proper working order. | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.1 | Element 1.1.8 For supported housing with commissioned support, the accommodation will need to comply with the accommodation standards set out by support commissioners. This may be higher than the minimum statutory standards in some cases. | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.1 | Element 1.1.9 Accommodation is located near to amenities and transport, supporting social inclusion | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.1 | Element 1.1.10 There are efforts to engage the local community, for example over the standards of housing and housing services, or by allowing access to any facilities such as gyms, as appropriate. | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.1 | Element 1.1.10 There are efforts to engage the local community, for example over the standards of housing and housing services, or by allowing access to any facilities such as gyms, as appropriate. | Best practice |
| Standard 1.1 | Element 1.1.11 Schemes are of a suitable size and are dispersed across the borough in locations in-line with planning guidance. | Best practice |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.1 The buildings comply with council standards or other statutory building and fire safety regulations and any oher relevant wider applicable housing legislation. | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.2 The landlord must: Check and maintain gas safety (Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998)Ensure that furniture and furnishings comply with the regulations and are fire safe (Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988)Fit smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015)Provide an Energy Performance Certificate (Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012)Provide a copy of the How to rent: the checklist for renting in England guide | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.3 Buildings comply with relevant accessibility regulations, including on accessible and adaptable dwellings (Access to and use of buildings: Approved document M, vol. 1 and 2). | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.4 Accommodation is free from serious hazards, as assessed by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.5 Landlord complies with House in Multiple Occupation management duties and licences property if necessary | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.6 Meet the standards set out in the ‘Decent Homes Standard’ if registered with the Regulator for Social Housing. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.7 Meet the standards set out in the ‘Decent Homes Standard’, even if not registered with the Regulator of Social Housing. If accommodation does not meet the standard, we would encourage the provider to instigate a plan to achieve compliance over a reasonable specified timeframe and to monitor, assess and report regularly against progress. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.8 Ensure buildings are energy efficient – we recommend providers work towards a minimum target of band C of the Energy Performance Certificate. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.9 The building has an appropriate and up to date fire risk assessment and where appropriate has been inspected by the local community safety officer from LFRS. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.10 The building has the appropriate planning permissions as contained in the Blackpool Local Plan Pre-application enquiries regarding planning requirements | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.11 Landlord provides an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), ensuring remedial works or further investigative works are carried out to remedy any ‘C1’, ‘C2’ or ‘FI’ classifications. | Best practice |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.12 Comply with House in Multiple Occupation management duties and licensing standards even where the property is formally exempt from licensing on the basis of being owned or managed by a housing association or other provider registered with the Regulator for Social Housing. | Best practice |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.13 Comply with the Code for Sustainable Homes, a single national standard for the design and construction of sustainable new homes. | Best practice |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.14 Comply with Secured by Design, a police initiative that improves the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings. | Best practice |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.15 For older people’s housing, schemes comply with the Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) design principles. | Best practice |
| Standard 1.2 regulations and standards | Element 1.2.16 Where appropriate for the client group, the scheme is designed and developed in line with Psychologically Informed Environment principles. | Best practice |
| Standard 1.3 housing facilities | Element 1.3.1 Properties are appropriate size for the number of occupiers (Housing Act 1985, Part X; Housing Act 2004, Part 1 and 2) and (Fylde Coast Space and Amenity Standards). | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.3 housing facilities | Element 1.3.2 Staff make reasonable adjustments to accommodation to meet residents’ needs, for example if a resident is disabled (Equality Act 2010). | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.3 housing facilities | Element 1.3.3 There are an adequate number of bedrooms. Except in emergency or short-term accommodation, unrelated adults are not expected to share bedrooms. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.3 housing facilities | Element 1.3.4 Living space for daily activities is appropriate for the size of the household. There is common space such as community rooms. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.3 housing facilities | Element 1.3.5 Accommodation provides residents with privacy and dignity, including private (as appropriate) space for dressing, showers, toileting, and accessible space for disabled users. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.3 housing facilities | Element 1.3.6 Storage is provided to keep residents’ personal belongings safe. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.3 housing facilities | Element 1.3.7 Accommodation is welcoming and is designed to feel like a home, rather than an institution. Residents are consulted on changes to their spaces such as redecoration or use of communal areas. | Best practice |
| Standard 1.3 housing facilities | Element 1.3.8 Care is taken to consider additional facilities or spaces which can improve outcomes (e.g. communal areas or private spaces for meetings with support workers). | Best practice |
| Standard 1.3 housing facilities | Element 1.3.9 Clear signage where needed, such as to communal areas (e.g. gym). | Best practice |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.1 Buildings are fit for human habitation (Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018) with no hazards. | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.2 Buildings comply with relevant legislation on building maintenance and condition. | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.3 There are policies and procedures in place for risks related to fire, asbestos and Legionella (where appropriate). | Legal minimum |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.4 Buildings are well maintained, with all amenities in good working order. This includes: Lifts Appliances Windows Doors and locks Lighting | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.5 Room temperatures are adjustable with appropriate heating/cooling systems. Residents can control heating within their homes. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.6 There are clear procedures for residents to report issues and all maintenance problems are addressed and fixed in a timely and responsive manner within an agreed time period with timescales for non-emergency repairs agreed with residents to create a more resident-focussed approach. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.7 There are clear procedures and processes to address non-routine or emergency repairs. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.8 Grounds are maintained in all seasons, with timely removal of ice and snow. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.9 There are policies and procedures in place for risks including electrical safety and emergency planning. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.10 Housing providers follow the Public Health England guidance for supported living settings. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.11 Accommodation is built to high accessibility standards so appropriate additional adaptations are easy and affordable to install. This can include, as needed, functioning alarm points, e.g. call bells, which are tested and maintained regularly; grab rails in bathrooms, showers and toilets and anti-scalding controls, for example in accommodation for older people or people with learning difficulties | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.12 There are closed containers for disposal of sharp objects if appropriate. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.13 Trip hazards are managed - all stairways and halls are lit adequately, with handrails and non-slip rugs where needed. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.14 Windows are fitted with plastic or safety glass (even where not required by building codes). | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.15 A planned programme is in place to minimise preventable deterioration of the buildings, accommodation, grounds, equipment and furnishings, and that all such are well maintained and in good working order. This includes a preventative maintenance and repair programme and schedule with regular inspections to check building and equipment conditions and to ensure repairs and servicing takes place. | Minimum standard |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.16 Housing and property managers examine the physical buildings on a regular basis to identify problems areas in safety and security and housing staff inspect property units whenever a new resident moves in, and at least annually. | Best practice |
| Standard 1.4 housing safety and building condition | Element 1.4.17 Each property has a safety plan, or matrix of responsibilities, with a clear reporting line for responding to building emergencies. Residents are engaged on issues related to safety through existing or dedicated committees including residents, housing and support staff. | Best practice |
Quality area 2: Tenant support
Quality area 3: Organisation and staff
These quality standards were co-produced with residents of supported housing, those with lived experience, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Blackpool professionals across areas including: housing, social care, housing benefits, planning and public health.
With thanks to all providers who actively engaged with Blackpool Council to benchmark these standards which have been aligned with the government’s National Standard of Expectations in Supported Housing, ensuring a good standard of high quality, value for money supported housing in Blackpool.