An updated consultation on the decent homes standard for private and social rented homes has been released by the housing department.  

Private rented homes will be subject to the decent homes standard for the first time in England, which will be included in the Renters’ Rights Bill currently making its way through parliament and is expected to come into law in the autumn.   

The document, Consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes, proposes that the updated standards will come “into force in each tenure [private and social] in either 2035 or 2037”. 

“This timeline broadly aligns with the nine-year implementation period that accompanied the original introduction of the decent homes standard in the social rented sector in 2001.” 

The housing department points out that the decent homes standard was first introduced for social housing in 2001 and last updated in 2006, but “no longer works for our aging housing stock or the modern expectations of tenants”. 

Minister for housing and planning Matthew Pennycook (pictured) says: “Everyone deserves the security and comfort of a safe, warm and decent home. Yet far too many of those living in social and privately rented homes have to put up with substandard conditions.  

“Today, 10% of homes in the social rented sector, and a staggering 21% of homes in the private rented sector are non-decent.” 

He points out that around 1.5 million rented homes fail to meet the current standard.   

Pennycook adds: “Regardless of who is your landlord, there should be a universally accepted and understood minimum standard of safe and decent housing for all tenants and landlords across the country.  

“That is why our Renters’ Rights Bill extends the decent homes standard to the private rented sector for the first time.” 

The document adds: “Following this consultation, the details of the standard and the timeframes for implementation will be set out in regulations.” 

New decent homes standard proposals include: 

• Updating how disrepair is measured, removing age requirements, updating the thresholds used to define that a component is in poor condition and updating the list of building components which must be kept in reasonable repair 

• Removing the maximum age requirement for kitchens and bathrooms, and revising the approach to the list of core facilities that need to be provided 

• Reducing the risk of falls from windows by requiring the installation of window restrictors   

• Seeking views on whether a new rule should be added requiring that suitable floor coverings are provided in all rooms at the start of a tenancy 

• Seeking views on whether there should be a new requirement that new doorsets and windows must meet security standards at the point of replacement 

• Extending existing heating requirements to cover the whole dwelling and linking these requirements to overall energy efficiency 

• Landlords should ensure their properties are free from damp and mould   

 The housing department’s enforcement measures include:  

• Nes powers to allow ministers to establish an enforceable decent homes standard for the private rented sector. The regulation-making power will be used to set the standard, and will continue to apply  after the standard is reviewed and updated 

• Lift the maximum fine level for non-compliance with enforcement action to £40,000 from £30,000  

• Local councils will have greater powers to issue fines, take emergency action and issue immediate civil penalties of up to £7,000 if landlords fail to address property issues  

Propertymark head of policy and campaigns Timothy Douglas says: “What’s key is that policymakers understand the different property types within both the private and social rented sectors, that they provide a level playing field between qualification requirements for property managers and focus on greater partnerships with agents, tenants and landlords to ensure the success of these measures. 

“The issue has been consulted on before, and with many property agents continuing to operate to professional standards, they still want to know through this new consultation process, how the government will ensure local authorities are adequately resourced and funded so they can enforce the rules effectively.” 

The consultation will last for 10 weeks until 10 September.