A Clear Look at the Decent Homes Standard and What It Means for Landlords

Recent analysis by PropTech leader Inventory Base shows that more than one in five privately rented homes in England are not meeting the Decent Homes Standard. This is significant because, once the Renters Rights Bill comes into force, likely this autumn, these homes will no longer be legally lettable.

The Decent Homes Standard is a well-established government requirement for social housing, demanding properties meet basic living conditions. Now, thanks to the Renters’ Rights Bill, it will also apply to privately rented homes. The onus will fall to landlords to ensure their properties comply.

The government has signalled that compliance need only be achieved by either 2035 or 2037, giving landlords a long lead time to plan upgrades. At the same time, energy efficiency improvements—under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards must be in place much sooner, by 2030.

Inventory Base estimates that 3.78 million homes in England currently fall short of the Decent Homes Standard, about 15% of all dwellings. Although social housing has had more time to catch up, over 10% (around 428,000 homes) still fall short of the required standard.

The private sector shows a slightly higher shortfall of nearly 16%. But the most concerning figure is within the private rented sector, where 21% of properties, just over one million homes, fail to meet the standard. That means, should the Bill be enacted as proposed, more than one in five privately rented homes would require substantial work to remain lettable.

Our advice to landlords and agents is to get ahead of this now. Review your portfolio, identify what needs attention, and start planning for upgrades well before the deadline. Property inspections and proactive maintenance can make the difference between a rushed scramble and a smooth transition.

While the extended timeline offers breathing space, delaying action isn’t a strategy; it’s a risk. Begin preparing now, and you’ll be in a much stronger position when the requirements arrive.

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