Welsh Housing
Quality Standards (WHQS)

FCHA is passionate about providing high quality homes for our tenants and was rightly proud of achieving the last Welsh Housing Quality standard in 2012. We welcome the introduction of the new standards and have been working to both understand the impact of delivering these as well as the key milestones we need to reach in order to do so. We are committed to achieving the standards, where this is possible, for all of our properties and have been laying the groundwork for this for some years through our work on decarbonisation.  Our Compliance policy will continue to evolve as the standards themselves will no doubt evolve however we will be transparent about our plans, progress and achievements and will publish this progress annually on our website.

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Introduction

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First Choice Housing Association (FCHA) has had the privilege of housing people with a learning disability for more than 35 years. Over that time, we have grown significantly and have an ambitious 5 year development programme which will see the association continue to grow in a sustainable way. In 2024 we reached a milestone in now providing  ordinary houses in ordinary streets for 1000 tenants to live. The association is rightly proud of this achievement and what it means for the tenants who live in our properties.

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First Choice have reported full compliance with the WHQS since December 2012 and maintained that compliance until the introduction of the new standards. With regards to the new standards outlined in WHQS 2023 FCHA, and all other Welsh associations, will have to start from a baseline that is no longer compliant. Instead, we are progressing to full compliance by 31st March 2034, with targeted stages in-between.

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This Compliance Policy will set out how the association plans to achieve all the target steps, and it is through this document that all stakeholders, including the Board of Management and the associations Tenants can monitor progress. This policy will be reviewed annually from its introduction on 31st March 2025. 

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This compliance policy is intended to provide assurance to stakeholders of the accuracy of any statistical returns to Welsh Government, with the following key areas covered:

• Approach to WHQS, reflecting local resources and circumstances;

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• Asset management software;

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• Tenant engagement;

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• Independent verification;

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• Compliance statements for new tenants;

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• Elements not measured, to be covered by detailed explanatory statements;

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• Cost prohibitive activity;

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• Target Energy Pathways Narrative;

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• Redevelopment, demolition and carbon

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• Community benefits.

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Progress has been made on the association’s journey to full compliance with the standards by March 31st 2034. The introduction of this policy is part of that important early work which was required to be completed by 31st March 2025. The next key milestone to achieve by 31st March 2027 is the completion of a Whole Stock Assessment leading to a Target Energy Pathway (TEP). This is a fundamental requirement of compliance with the standards. There must be an understanding that until these are completed and in place, gaps in the full data set will remain.

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You can read the full WHQS Policy and review the appendices by clicking on the buttons below:

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