## Significant Number of Private Rented Homes May Not Meet Decent Homes Standard by 2035

New research from Inventory Base reveals that around 726,000 privately rented homes in England could fail to comply with the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) by the 2035 deadline. The social housing sector also faces challenges, with an estimated 87,000 homes potentially falling short of the standard. The DHS, recently published following an extensive consultation process, sets a clear target for landlords to ensure all rented homes meet minimum quality and safety requirements within the next decade.

## Current State of Non-Decent Homes in the Private Rented Sector

Analysis of the English Housing Survey (EHS) data shows a gradual improvement in the condition of privately rented homes over recent years. Non-decent homes in the private rented sector have decreased from 1.45 million in 2008 to approximately 1.09 million in 2024. However, the pace of improvement has slowed, with an average annual reduction of 1.6% over the last decade and a concerning 6.1% increase recorded in 2024. This trend suggests that without accelerated efforts, many properties will remain below the required standard.

## Social Housing Also Faces Decency Challenges

The social housing sector has seen a more significant reduction in non-decent homes, falling from 1.07 million in 2008 to 428,000 in 2024. This represents an average annual decrease of 2.7%, indicating stronger progress compared to the private rented sector. Nonetheless, the presence of hundreds of thousands of non-decent homes in both sectors underlines the scale of the task ahead for landlords and housing providers.

## The Importance of the 2035 Deadline

Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base, emphasised the importance of the fixed 2035 deadline: “Nine years is a long time to tell tenants to wait for homes to become properly fit for habitation. A fixed 2035 deadline is at least a step forward, if only because it replaces vague ambition with something more concrete. But the uncomfortable truth is that we are not moving fast enough.”

She further warned: “Hundreds of thousands of homes already fail today’s Decent Homes Standard. By 2035, the risk is not that we fall short of the new benchmark, it’s that we still haven’t met the old one.”

## What This Means for Landlords and Letting Agents

The findings highlight the urgent need for landlords and letting agents to prioritise property improvements to meet the DHS requirements. With nearly three-quarters of a million private rented homes potentially non-compliant by 2035, proactive investment in property maintenance and upgrades will be essential to avoid penalties and ensure tenant safety and satisfaction.

Landlords should also monitor changes in legislation and standards closely, as the DHS will apply to all private and social landlords, making compliance a legal obligation within the next decade. Early action can help spread costs and reduce the risk of non-compliance as the deadline approaches.

## Conclusion

While progress has been made in reducing the number of non-decent homes, the current rate of improvement is insufficient to meet the 2035 Decent Homes Standard deadline. Both private and social landlords face significant challenges in upgrading their housing stock to meet these requirements, underscoring the importance of strategic planning and investment in property condition improvements.

Suggested internal link anchors
– Decent Homes Standard
– private rented sector
– social housing
– English Housing Survey
– property maintenance
– landlord compliance
– tenant safety
– housing standards
– property upgrades
– letting agents responsibilities
– housing legislation
– landlord investment

TLA update

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