Decent homes blueprint for PRS ‘falls short’ says leading industry figure
Safeagent boss claims the Government plan for a decent homes standard in private homes is too complicated.
Private rental body Safeagent has rejected Government plans to introduce a ‘decent homes’ standard in PRS.
The proposals “fall short” of what is needed, and are “over-complicated”, the accreditation organisation says.
The Government’s consultation on introducing a legally binding decent homes standard to the private rented sector in England has just closed. It forms part of the Renters Reform White Paper published in June, and would bring PRS in line with social housing rules.
Safeagent identified some “clear inconsistencies” between what is proposed and existing housing regulations.
Fall short
Isobel Thomson, CEO, (main picture) says: “Safeagent wholeheartedly supports the principle of improving standards in the private rented sector – everyone has the right to live in a safe, secure home. But policy efforts need to be consistent and joined up.
“The Government’s proposals for a PRS decent homes standard – as they are currently outlined – fall short. They fail to recognise the standards set by existing regulations, such as for gas and electrical safety, energy efficiency, and recent changes to smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements.
It also cannot be right for private landlords who fail to abide by the standard to face more severe punishment than those who provide social housing”.
“Other areas have been unnecessarily complicated, such as the additional layer of electrical safety regulation. Inconsistent, more complex regulation will only make it harder for landlords to know what their responsibilities are,” she says.
She says local authorities need greater resources and clarity about how to apply the rules.
“It also cannot be right for private landlords who fail to abide by the standard to face more severe punishment than those who provide social housing,” she adds.
You can read Safeagent’s full response to the consultation here
Well said:
“It also cannot be right for private landlords who fail to abide by the standard to face more severe punishment than those who provide social housing,” she adds.
Don’t forget, we also need to pay Benefit tenants enough LHA to cover all these standards as they can’t currently afford EPC C’s on existing houses they’ve lived in for 20 years.