Rural England
Non-decent homes
Key points
- The proportion of homes which are 'non-decent' is highest in the most rural areas: 40% compared with 30% in village centres and urban areas. At 25%, it is lowest in rural residential areas.
Graph 1: Compared to urban
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Rural/urban ratios (urban = 10)
On most poverty and social exclusion indicators, rural areas have 'better scores' than urban areas. The purpose of the table below is to differentiate between those subjects where rural areas are 'a bit better' and those where rural areas are 'a lot better'. It does so by presenting the rural statistics for the indicator as a proportion of the urban statistics. So, for example, a rural 'score' of 6 in the table below means that the rural statistic is around 60% of its urban equivalent.
| The most rural areas | 14 |
|---|---|
| Village centres | 11 |
| Rural residential | 8 |
Definitions and data sources
The indicator
The graph shows the proportion of homes by type of area which are 'non-decent'. 'Non-decent' homes are those which do not meet the government's standard for 'decent homes' whereby housing should: be above the statutory minimum standard (i.e. be fit for habitation); be in a reasonable state of repair; provide reasonably modern facilities and services; and provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort.
Level of the data
Small area urban/rural classifications, where the surveyor of the property allocates it to one of six categories, three of which are rural.
Source
English House Condition Survey, DCLG. To improve its statistical reliability, the data is the average for the latest three years.
The numbers
| Rural residential | 24% |
|---|---|
| Village centres | 32% |
| The most rural areas | 42% |
| Rural (combined) | 29% |
| Urban | 29% |