Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2023: frequently asked questions

The Standard whilst published in October 2023 came into effect on the 1 April 2024. The first reporting point is at the 31 of March 2025.

You will have to submit line by line reporting on each of your properties in line with the data specification issued in July 2024.

You will need to supply your data by Friday 16^th of May 2025.

The required data will be submitted through the Welsh Government’s central service, Objective Connect.

No, but the following applies:

1. NO SCORE is required for properties that pass the elements 1a,1b, 2b,4a,4g,5a,5b,6c and 7b
2. A HHSRS assessment will have to be done on those properties that fail any of the above elements.
3. this will generate a failing score which should be recorded alongside a fail assessment for that element.
4. once the hazard has been rectified the element assessment should be amended and the hazard score deleted.

Yes.

1. A landlord has a legal obligation to fix category 1 hazards. Therefore, if you have a property with an outstanding category 1 hazard waiting to be fixed on the 31 of March 2025, we expect you to report that score to us.
2. However, a landlord only has to fix a category 2 hazard if it is ‘deemed necessary’ by the landlord. Therefore, we would expect you to make a judgement call on whether you are having to fix that category 2 hazard or not, if you are going to fix it you should report the score to us if that hazard is still outstanding on the 31 of March. However, if you do not deem it necessary to fix, you should report that category 2 hazard as a pass when reporting to us. 

Yes, all self-contained homes wholly owned and managed by you are to be assessed and reported against the Standard. Welsh Government reporting will collect occupancy data to analyse and understand if properties are failing the Standard due to being vacant. 

A Whole Stock Assessment (WSA) covering your whole portfolio will need to be undertaken by March 2027. However, you will need to report on your progress annually starting from March 2025. 

‘Failing’ to meet this element before March 2027 will not go against the overall property assessment.

Target Energy Pathways (TEP’s) for EACH HOME will need to be completed by March 2027. However, you will need to report on your progress annually starting from March 2025. 

The TEP will establish the target date for elements 3a and 3c and should be submitted as part of the data collection. ‘Failing’ to meet these elements before the submitted TEP targets will not go against the overall property assessment.

It is not necessary to carry out a new survey to start developing Target Energy Pathways. For some dwellings it may not be possible to identify TEPs without gathering additional data, but for most dwellings, it should be possible to develop TEPs of reasonable quality from existing data sources.

No, your WSA and your TEPs will indicate by when you will reach the targets of EPC A and EIR 92. There is no fixed date by which you need to reach these targets. However, Welsh Government Officials will monitor your WSA’s and TEP’s to ensure you are on the right path to achieve the targets in a timely manner. 

The TEPs will establish the target date for elements 3a and 3c and should be submitted as part of the data collection. ‘Failing’ to meet these elements before the submitted TEP targets will not go against the overall property assessment.

No, however, at change of tenancy we expect you to install a smart meter if appropriate. We do acknowledge this may cause delays to relets and are asking you to let us know if this is a significant challenge to achieving this element.

No, however, at change of tenancy you need to install a water butt if appropriate. We acknowledge that not all properties will be suitable to receive a water butt.

No, however, if the property has no access to outside drying facilities or there are no communal drying facilities you will need to provide a tumble dryer or washer dryer if there is limited space.

Yes – you can gift the tumble dryer to the tenant if you wish to. 

When a new tenant moves into a property, you must ensure that there is suitable flooring in place in all habitable rooms.

No, if there is existing flooring in the property and this is suitable you will not be expected to replace it. However, if there is no flooring or the existing flooring is unsuitable then you will have to put suitable flooring down in all the habitable rooms.

This is for you to determine in conjunction with the tenant, the Standard allows for a degree of flexibility to allow you to determine the best course of action for an individual property.

No, and whilst we acknowledge that the introduction of this element increases your costs the benefits of doing this for tenants is significant.

Yes – you can gift the flooring to the new tenant if you wish to.

No – mutual exchanges are not considered new tenancies; however, we would expect the landlord to check that the existing flooring is suitable.