Councils must be backed to uphold Decent Homes Standard, warns NRLA

The Decent Homes Standard is being extended from social housing to private in the Renters’ Rights Bill, but the National Residential Landlords Association has warned that it needs to be enforceable.

This means councils need to be properly funded when there are cases of rogue landlords.

The standard will mean landlords have to fix issues with homes faster, for example they will have to repair serious hazards like damp or mould within 24 hours.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “Decent and safe housing should be the bedrock of the rental market. Any landlord failing to provide this should have no place in the private rented sector.

“79% of private rented homes already meet the existing Decent Homes Standard, despite it not being legally binding on the sector. We want to ensure every rented home is of a decent quality.

“We welcome publication of the government’s proposals and will engage positively as they consult on them. Landlords, letting agents, tenants and councils need a clear, coherent and workable set of standards to meet.

“However, setting this standard is only part of the solution. Without effective and properly resourced enforcement by councils, the minority of rogue and criminal landlords will continue to undermine tenants’ confidence and damage the reputation of the wider sector. It is time to find and root out poor practice for good.”

As proposed by the Decent Homes Standard, homes must be kept in a reasonable state of repair, kitchens can’t be more than 20 years old and bathrooms must be under 30 years old.

Properties need proper heating systems and insulation. For oil or gas heating, cavity wall insulation or 50mm of loft insulation is required, while for electric storage heaters or solid fuel heating, this rises to 200mm of loft insulation.