The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has urged the government to ensure its new Decent Homes Standard for rental homes is clear and enforceable.
The government is currently consulting on a new Decent Homes Standard for both private and social rented sectors.
The English Housing Survey, published in January 2025, found that 79% of PRS properties would meet the current Decent Homes Standard despite this not being legally binding.
The NRLA has welcomed work to heighten standards but has recommended these both be easy for landlords to follow, and for authorities to enforce.
“Landlords, letting agents, tenants and councils need a clear, coherent and workable set of standards to meet,” said Ben Beadle, CEO at the NRLA.
“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.”
