The Decent Homes Standard for private landlords

It's a minimum standard for the condition of rented homes. Until now it has only applied to social housing. Section 100 and Schedule 4 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 let the government apply a standard to private rented homes too, and give councils powers to enforce it.

The government's response to its 2025 consultation (published 28 January 2026) confirmed the reformed standard will apply from 2035 in both the social and private rented sectors. It chose 2035 over the alternative of 2037, and says landlords shouldn't leave the work until the end — monitoring of compliance will begin before then.

To meet the reformed standard, a home must:

1. A — be free of category 1 hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
2. B — be in a reasonable state of repair.
3. C — have core facilities and services.
4. D — provide thermal comfort, including meeting the minimum energy efficiency standards (see our EPC guide).
5. E — be free of damp and mould.

• The age of a kitchen or bathroom is no longer a reason to fail on its own — though kitchens and bathrooms in disrepair still count against the home.
• Damp and mould is now its own criterion.
• Child-resistant window restrictors, which an adult can override, will be required on windows that pose a fall risk to children.
• Floor coverings won't be mandatory.

Councils will enforce the standard in the private rented sector, with statutory guidance still to come. A new power to fine up to £7,000 (section 6A of the Housing Act 2004) has been in force since 22 June 2026 for category 1 hazards: it covers a category 1 hazard in a private rented home that the landlord could reasonably have removed, but not the common parts of a block of flats. There is no £40,000 penalty in the Decent Homes provisions themselves, though ignoring an improvement notice can bring a separate penalty of up to £40,000.

• Any category 1 hazards — they can already lead to a £7,000 fine.
• Damp and mould, and whether ventilation and heating are adequate.
• Your EPC rating and any upgrade plan, since thermal comfort includes the energy standards.
• Window restrictors on windows where a child could fall.
• A repair record showing what was reported and when it was fixed.