THE number of homes managed by councils and housing associations in Wales meeting quality and safety standards increased by five per cent over the past year.

New figures have shown 91 per cent of homes met Welsh Housing Quality Standards (WHQS) in March this year - up from 86 per cent a year earlier.

To meet the standard housing has to comply with 42 measures, including being in a good state of a repair, adequately heated and well insulated, with up-to-date kitchens and bathrooms as well as being safe and secure.

Housing and regeneration minister Rebecca Evans said: “Every year we invest £108 million to support local authorities and housing associations to improve the quality of our social housing stock in Wales and to meet the target of full compliance with the WHQS target by 2020. I am clear that there is more to do, but these figures show our investment is paying off.

“Good quality housing is a Welsh Government priority because it is crucial to our health and wellbeing. Public Health Wales’ work tells us that poor housing costs the NHS £67 million a year, so this investment is an investment in people’s health, an investment to tackle fuel poverty and an investment to improve people’s lives.

“I am pleased to see good progress against this target and I expect to see local authorities and housing associations work to meet this target by 2020.”