Overall conditions of housing in the UK have improved over the last 11 years, according to research published today.

The English House Condition Headline Report found the number of homes deemed non-decent dropped from 9.1 million to 6 million. The figures represent a fall from 45 per cent of houses in the UK failing to meet the standards to just 27 per cent.

Differences between the private and public sectors has also decreased and are now almost equal, with 29 and 27 per cent respectively being classed as non-decent.

The report also found that housing conditions in the most deprived areas of the country have also improved since 1996, with the number of non-decent houses reducing by 680,000.

Under government regulations, a house must meet certain criteria to be considered ‘decent.’ It must be in a reasonable state of repair, have modern facilities, have adequate levels of insulation and an effective heating system.

The results are based on fieldwork carried out between April 2004 and March 2006.

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