North Wales MS Mark Isherwood raised concerns in the Senedd yesterday that there are “high levels of non-compliance stock with the Welsh Housing Quality Standard in Gwynedd”.
Questioning the Minister for Climate Change, Mr Isherwood said the concerns had been raised by Gwynedd County Council’s Fuel Poverty Officer.
Mr Isherwood, who is Chair of the Senedd’s Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency, said:
“Responding as Chair of the Cross-Party Group on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency to your Statement on ‘Improving the energy Efficiency of Welsh Homes’ on 8th November, I referred to the Equality and Social Justice Committee recommendations for the Welsh Government to ensure that the Warm Homes Programme embeds the fabric and worst-first approach to retrofitting, as well as targeting the poorest households and the least efficient homes, and asked how you will ensure that the Programme embeds this.
“Your reply concluded, 'We constantly look to see whether it's better to help more people do one thing than it is to help very much fewer people do everything, and I'm afraid that's one of the balances we're constantly wrestling with'.
“I thank you for subsequently agreeing to work with the Cross-Party Group on this, and to attend our next meeting on 13th February. But in the meantime, how do you respond to the concern raised by Gwynedd Council's Fuel Poverty Officer at the Cross-Party Group's last meeting in November, that there are high levels of non-compliance stock with the Welsh Housing Quality Standard in Gwynedd?
Responding, the Minister said:
“I would respond with some surprise, because all Authorities have met the standard for the Welsh Housing Quality, which is EPC D, apart from what are called 'acceptable fails'. So, if you have details of why he's concerned that the stock isn't up to standard, I'd certainly like to see it.”
Mr Isherwood added:
“It is my understanding that this relates to the Welsh Government’s proposed Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) 2023 which will replace the existing WHQS Standard, using the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) methodology which underpins the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to assess and compare the energy and environmental performance of dwellings. Social landlords of all social homes in Wales are required to meet and maintain the standard.”