Government Response to the Decent Homes Standard
The Government’s response to the consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard signals a clear intention to raise the minimum quality of rented homes across England and, for the first time, to apply the same basic standard to both social housing and the private rented sector.
In straightforward terms, the Government is saying that every rented home should be safe, warm, in good repair, and free from serious hazards such as damp and mould, regardless of who the landlord is.
What is changing?
Until now, the Decent Homes Standard has only applied to social housing. The Government has confirmed that it will be extended to the private rented sector as part of wider housing reform.
This means private landlords will be expected to meet a defined quality benchmark that has previously only applied to councils and housing associations.
What “decent” will mean in practice?
The revised standard focuses on four clear expectations:-
The property must be in a reasonable state of repair.
It must have reasonably modern facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms.
It must provide effective heating and thermal comfort.
It must be free from serious health and safety hazards, particularly damp and mould.
This reflects a move away from simply checking whether a property has basic fixtures, towards assessing whether it is genuinely suitable to live in without causing harm to the occupier.
Why this matters for the private rented sector
Government data shows that a significant proportion of privately rented homes do not currently meet the existing Decent Homes Standard. Extending the standard is intended to close this gap and ensure consistency across rented housing.
For private landlords and agents, this is a notable shift. Property condition will no longer be judged only by reference to repair obligations or the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, but also against this broader quality benchmark.
Timescales and practicality
The Government recognises that many properties will require improvement works to comply. For this reason, implementation is expected to be phased over a long period, potentially into the mid‑2030s, to allow landlords time to plan, budget, and carry out upgrades. This acknowledges the financial and practical reality of improving older housing stock.
Enforcement
Local authorities will be responsible for assessing and enforcing compliance in the private rented sector. The intention is that this new standard works alongside existing legal duties, rather than duplicating them.
Further guidance is expected to explain how the Decent Homes Standard will align with other requirements such as damp and mould responsibilities and energy efficiency rules.
The Government’s position is clear. Tenants should not have to live in substandard conditions. There should be a consistent expectation of quality across all rented homes. Landlords will be given time to comply, but the direction of travel is towards higher standards.
Whilst the aim of improving housing quality is widely supported, there are understandable concerns within the private rented sector about the cost of compliance, the cumulative effect of multiple new regulations, and the potential impact on housing supply if improvements are not financially viable.
The long implementation period is intended to reduce these pressures, but practical guidance and proportionate enforcement will be essential.
The reformed Decent Homes Standard represents a move towards a single, clear expectation that every rented home in England must be safe, warm, properly maintained, and fit to live in.
For private landlords and agents, this is not an immediate change, but it is a significant future obligation that will need to be factored into long‑term property management and investment planning.