Landlords face challenges with the Decent Homes Standard
12:01 AM, 6th May 2025, 11 months ago
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The Decent Homes Standard, which is part of the Renters’ Rights Bill going through the House of Lords currently, may require significant property upgrades, potentially pushing some landlords to sell rather than renovate, one expert says.
Dave Sayce, the co-founder of Compare My Move, says the legislation evaluates properties based on three criteria:
- The condition of the premises
- Provisions for tenant safety and comfort
- Ability to maintain an appropriate temperature.
However, he warns that the lack of clear guidelines has sparked concerns about compliance costs and consistency.
Local council discretion for standards
Mr Sayce said: “The Decent Home Standard seems as if it’s up to discretion either from local councils or the Secretary of State so it’s not exactly easy to know whether your home needs work done in order to comply with the Renters’ Rights Bill.
“The three matters which they give us help give an idea what local authorities will deem a ‘decent home’ but do not outline the requirements that the Decent Home Standard asks landlords to meet.”
He added: “Even when inspecting the Decent Home Standard consultations, the requirements that the government ask landlords to meet are mostly up to interpretation, such as ‘adequate insulation’, ‘suitable temperature’, or ‘modern facilities’.”
Councils will enforce standards
Once the Bill is enacted, local councils will enforce the standard, with powers to issue improvement notices, undertake emergency repairs and bill landlords.
They will also be able to impose fines or even prohibit letting parts or all of a property.
Mr Sayce says it is this discretion could lead to inconsistent standards across regions, complicating compliance for landlords with multiple properties.
He adds: “Leaving most of the Decent Homes Standard up to individual council discretion creates real challenges for landlords, especially those with large portfolios spread across different local authorities.
“What one council considers ‘adequate insulation’ or a ‘reasonable state of repair’ might differ significantly from another’s interpretation.”
Confusion to remain compliant
Mr Sayce said: “This inconsistency can lead to uncertainty and confusion for landlords who are trying to remain compliant, but don’t have a clear, measurable checklist to follow.
“As a result, some landlords may feel it’s too risky or costly to continue managing multiple properties, especially across different councils, prompting them to sell off parts of their portfolios.
“If that happens at scale, the number of available rental properties could shrink, driving up tenant demand and rental prices.
“To avoid this, the government could provide clear, consistent and measurable national standards that all councils enforce in the same way.
“Landlords should be able to plan and maintain their properties with confidence — not guesswork.”
Tags:
decent homes standard, housing regulations, local councils, property compliance, Rental market, renters rights bill, UK Landlords
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Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 30
11:33 AM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
As an issue this leaves me cold. Fewer houses in Derbyshire villages are being let out. A number are second homes but many are listed with constraints set by the LA. No double glazing allowed. No external insulation for houses with single skin brick or stone as the externals must be maintained. They often have small rooms which cannot work with 30cm of insulation on all internal walls, etc. These properties cannot make ‘C’ grade. As an option it becomes a holiday let. Period properties from before 1900 here are not rare but not going to be rentable. You can’t even knock them down without a lengthy struggle
Member Since January 2020 - Comments: 1102 - Articles: 1
4:01 PM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
I understood that the decent homes standard was to be introduced by secondary legislation or by regulation once the Bill is in force.
The idea that standards will vary across the country is bizarre so perhaps somebody could say where this information is coming from.
Member Since June 2021 - Comments: 51
6:17 PM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
My biggest concern from DHS is the age limit on Kitchens and Bathrooms. I don’t get the point, but also, where is the line for Bathrooms? I have some houses with the original 60’s WC in the downstairs loo, (new flush mechanism and seats, but original porcelain), as they are over 30 years old, do they need ripping out and replaced with cheap modern rubbish? What about listed buildings? Can they no longer be let out?
Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 390
7:00 PM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
This all sounds like it’s going to be as straight forward as the EPC farce. Left to the councils we can all expect to have demands to bring the property up to 5*+ levels or face 30k fines. We all know where it’s heading.
Member Since January 2020 - Comments: 1102 - Articles: 1
9:53 PM, 6th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by No hate plz at 06/05/2025 – 18:17
You are assuming that the standard will be the same as for social housing. There is no confirmation of this as far as I know but if that’s what it turns out to be, I agree that it could drive many landlords out of the market.
Member Since June 2021 - Comments: 51
7:38 AM, 7th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 06/05/2025 – 21:53
My understanding was that they would just apply A Decent Home: Definition and guidance for implementation to the private sector.
Member Since July 2023 - Comments: 28
8:59 AM, 7th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Fred M BARRETT at 06/05/2025 – 11:33
Not sure why landlords have to exaggerate problems. Normally 50mm of kingspan type insulation on inside of external walls will do the job, and double glazing is allowed, you just have to get wooden frames made to match the existing ones, hardwood will last forever. Roof insulation and led lights with combi boiler will get you grade C EPC.
Member Since January 2020 - Comments: 1102 - Articles: 1
9:42 AM, 7th May 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by No hate plz at 07/05/2025 – 07:38
Extract from the government guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-renters-rights-bill/guide-to-the-renters-rights-bill#decent-homes-standard
“The Renters’ Rights Bill will allow regulations to be made setting out DHS requirements for private rented sector homes and will provide local councils with effective and proportionate enforcement powers. We have committed to consult on our plans for a reformed Decent Homes Standard that will apply to both the social and private rented sectors.”
As far as I am aware the regulations will not be produced until after the Bill is in force because authority for the Secretary of State to make such regulations will not exist until then.
Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 765
12:33 PM, 8th May 2025, About 11 months ago
One of the original parts of the decent homes standard mentioned ‘affordable heating ‘ with ridiculous ‘definitions’ like that we are all at the whim of a council inspector.