Written question asked by Andrew Turner (Conservative) on Monday, 6 January 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 January 2003. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Tuesday, 14 January 2003 on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his housing decency standard relating heat loss to energy input is; and what temperature that standard is designed to maintain.

Answer: Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his housing decency standard relating heat loss to energy input is; and what temperature that standard is designed to maintain. [89570] Mr. McNulty: The decent home standard does not include a measure of energy efficiency. There are two measures in the standard that will impact on the energy efficiency of homes. The standard requires dwellings to achieve a reasonable degree of thermal comfort through provision of efficient heating and effective insulation. Guidance on implementing the standard encourages landlords to maximise energy efficiency where feasible when installing new heating systems. Under the fitness standard, which is another component of the decent home standard, a property must have adequate provision for heating. This is defined as sufficient to achieve a temperature of 18oC in the main living room and 16oC in other habitable rooms when the outside temperature is minus 1oC.

Secondary information