The Decent Homes Standard (DHS) for rented properties will be enforced from 2035, the government has announced.

The aim is to ensure that all social and private rented homes in England are decent, safe and warm.

Minister for housing and planning Matthew Pennycook says the 2035 deadline “gives social landlords in particular the time and the certainty they need to boost housing supply as well as drive up the quality of the homes they manage”.

The DHS was first introduced for social housing in 2001 and last updated in 2006.

Pennycook said: “Our new, modernised DHS is designed to meet modern expectations of housing quality. By setting out in plain terms a series of ambitious yet proportionate standards for landlords to adhere to, it will help ensure we continue to drive down rates of non-decency across the country.

“Importantly, our new DHS will apply to both the social rented sector and private rented sector, meaning that all tenants in rented housing will benefit, regardless of who their landlord is.

“Our expectations are clear: no tenant should have to live in unsafe conditions for any amount of time, and social and private landlords should act as quickly as possible to ensure their properties are decent.”

“However, we recognise the significant challenges that landlords are facing as a result of the bold and comprehensive regulatory changes we are enacting.”

“We are also acutely aware that we are asking social landlords to balance the competing demands of improving their existing stock and building more desperately needed social and affordable homes.”

National Residential Landlords Association chief executive Ben Beadle said: “Providing a decent, safe place to live should be the top priority for any landlord.

“Whilst we will study the detail carefully, we broadly welcome the Government’s plans, which provide much-needed clarity for both landlords and tenants about the standards that should be expected of homes to rent.

“That said, all the standards in the world will mean nothing without robust enforcement to back them up. At present, too many councils lack the staff and resources needed to find and root out rogue landlords. Our research also shows many councils are failing to collect civil penalties issued against landlords even where they have been issued.

“It is time to ensure enforcement is properly funded and targeted, so that the cost of action falls on those breaking the rules, not the responsible majority of landlords already doing the right thing.”

The government launched its consultation for an updated DHS in July last year.