Property Grading Guide

Grade 1 Housing Standard

For a house to be classed as Grade 1, it must have all of the following attributes:

All rooms must have minimum ceiling height of 1.5m in all rooms (at lowest point)
Fitted carpets/wooden flooring/tiling must be provided to all floors
Carpet or other soft floor covering on staircases
All rooms must have curtains or blinds at windows
Suitable light fittings or lamp shades in every room
Two double 13 amp electrical sockets in every habitable room
All staircases (including cellar) have handrails
Internet access communally or in each study bedroom
Habitable rooms have fixed heating appliances capable of maintaining a room temperature of approximately 21° Celsius
All habitable rooms have adequate electrical lighting with conveniently located switches
Staircases have light switches at the top and bottom of every flight
All habitable rooms have an area of clear glazing in an external wall as part of a window or door

Kitchens must be a minimum of 5m2 for 1-3 bedroom house
6m2 for a 4 bedroom house
7m2 for a 5 bedroom house
Living rooms/Dining rooms must be 8.5m2 for a 1-3 bedroom house
11m2 for a 4-6 bedroom house
Dining/Kitchens must be 10m2 for a 1-3 bedroom house
11m2 for a 4-6 bedroom house
Washable suitable floor covering (not carpet) in all bathrooms and kitchens
Adequate lounge suite or easy chairs per occupant
Mechanical ventilation or extractor fan in kitchen and bathroom
Cooker with four rings/hotplates, oven with a separate grill compartment
Fridge and freezer with sufficient storage for number of tenants
One single food storage cupboard (not under sink) for each tenant
Sufficient and easily cleanable work surfaces convenient to sink and cooker
Easily cleanable sink and drainer, sufficient supply of hot and cold water and efficient mains drainage
Modern vacuum cleaner, mop, bucket, dustpan and brush
Plumbing for washing machine
Bath/shower rooms provide sufficient drying, changing and storage space for no of tenants
Constant hot and cold water in bathroom
Bathroom has smooth, non-absorbent and easily cleanable walls and ceilings
Shower curtain replaced annually
Separate toilets also have wash hand basins in the same area
Toilet roll holder and toilet brush (replaced each year)
Windows in bathroom and toilet have obscured glass

Note: Cellars cannot be used as living areas.

Modern single bed and mattress (at least 1.98m x 0.91m)
Study desk large enough for computer monitor, open lever arch file and working space
Office style study chair
Wardrobe
Chest of drawers
Bookshelves suitable for A4 lever arch files
Soft seating (where no communal area)

Note: No staircase, landing, bathroom or kitchen can be used as a sleeping area.

Where locks are provided to bedroom doors, they can be opened from the inside without a key (thumb turn)
All exterior doors have at least three fixing points (locks to be keyless on the inside
Patio doors have three point locking and anti-lift device

Hard wired, interlinked smoke detectors, at least one on each floor and a heat sensor in the kitchen (and cellar where applicable)
Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors in high risk rooms
Protected fire escape route by means of fire escape windows or fire doors/close fitting solid doors and thumb turn locks on external doors.
Fire blanket, wall mounted in or near kitchen
Soft furnishings meet current fire resistance standards
An annual gas safety certificate will be required
5 year EICR electrical installation inspection report will be required

For a house to be classed as Grade 2, it must have all of the Grade 1 attributes, as well as all of the following:

In addition it will have at least two of the following additional features: