A significant propertion of properties in the private rented sector in England currently fail the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) and will be illegal to let once the Renters’ Rights Bill goes live fully later this year.

The legisaltion will make it mandatory for all rented homes to reach the current DHS but at the same time, a consultation on a harsher DHS for privately rented homes, which is running until September with any changes due to be implemented by either 2035 or 2037, is also under way.

Defended

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook recently defended the timetable, telling MPs it had to be realistic, and give landlords enough time to make improvements.

Inventory Base analysed the latest government data and found that an estimated total 3.78 million residential dwellings in England currently fall below the Decent Homes Standard.

And in the private rented sector, 21% of properties fall below the DHS, equivalent to about one million homes.

Disruptive

Sian Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base (main picture), says: “The Renters’ Rights Bill represents one of the most disruptive overhauls of England’s rental sector in a generation.

“Landlords will face enormous pressure navigating the transition, from the end of fixed-term ASTs and no-fault evictions, to new rules on pets and a sweeping expansion of the Decent Homes Standard.

That’s a massive, time-intensive, and costly task.”

“If the DHS proposal becomes law, over a million privately rented homes will require significant upgrades,” she says.

“That’s a massive, time-intensive, and costly task, especially without a clear support structure.”

She predicts,”Widespread non-compliance or accelerated landlord sell-offs”.

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