The Decent Homes Standard
The Government has defined a decent home as "a home that is warm, weatherproof and has reasonably modern facilities." It is aiming to make all council and housing association housing decent by 2010.

In 2003, Lambeth undertook a stock condition survey as part of its obligations towards the Decent Homes Standard. An investment gap of £48.9 million was identified.A stock option appraisal, approved by the Executive in October 2004, concluded that the majority of the stock should remain within the Council's ownership, but with some stock being transferred to bridge the funding gap. These options are

1. Housing Associations
2. Private Finance Initiatives
3. Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs - The Hounslow Option’)

Almos are companies wholly-owned by the Council, but set up to administer the day-to-day running of Housing Services In return the Government awards the Council a grant to reach the Decent Homes Standard

Hounslow's Almo - called 'Hounslow Homes' - was set up in 2002, and covers their entire housing stock of 14,500 properties. They were awarded £90 million by Government.
In 2002/03 only 29% of Hounslow's stock reached the Decent Homes Standard; by the end of 2004/05, 61.66%

The ‘Tower Hamlets Option’
The Tower Hamlets system was changed from simply joining a list, issued with priority status and then (eventually) being offered a property.

Now, applicants still have a priority and needs assessment, but the big difference is that instead of properties being secret and only one offer being made, they are advertised openly. People then bid for properties. This creates demand, which lowers refusal rates. An applicant could end up bidding indefinitely if they keep bidding for properties they have no realistic chance of being offered.

Tower Hamlets has also ensured that a system is in place to help vulnerable people making these decisions.

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