News

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has launched a consultation on plans to extend the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector.

This follows the Government’s A fairer private rented sector white paper, which committed to introducing legally binding standards in privately rented homes, following the Decent Homes Standard’s introduction across social housing in 2001.

The consultation, which closes on 14 October 2022, is seeking views on whether the standards should be introduced, and on how they should be enforced.

More information is available here.

Isobel Thomson, safeagent’s chief executive, says:

safeagent welcomes the new consultation on the development of a Decent Homes Standard for the PRS – we want to see simplified housing regulations which provide clarity for landlords, agents, tenants and local authorities about what is expected of them.

“Local resourcing will be critical, and part of the discussion must be about how we can make sure enforcement mechanisms are well used and effective.”