The Department is asking for responses from landlords, renters, councils and housing groups on the policy which will legally require landlords to ensure properties meet a certain standard.
The department acknowledged that while the majority of landlords in the PRS maintained high property standards, a minority failed to do so.
The consultation will ask if landlords should be legally bound to keep properties in a good state of repair with efficient heating, suitable facilities, and free from serious hazards like fire or damp.
It said a fifth of the 4.4 million homes in the PRS in England were “in poor condition” and the government aims to halve this number by 2030.
This could mirror the Decent Homes Standard which has been implemented by the social housing sector since 2001 and resulted in a reduction of poor quality homes by a third over a decade.
Improving standards in the sector
Housing secretary Greg Clark said he wanted to see a “thriving private rented sector, but that does not mean that tenants should have to suffer homes that are not of decent standard”. He said the consultation would ask what the minimum standard should be.
Alicia Kennedy, director of Generation Rent, added: “We welcome these plans to extend the Decent Homes Standard to private rented homes.
“As the private rented sector has grown to overtake the social sector in size, not enough action has been taken on the poorer conditions private tenants must put up with. Private rented homes are more costly to heat and at a higher risk of disrepair and damp problems. There is no reason why private tenants should expect a worse service than social tenants.
“This crucial measure will help tenants get value for money, whoever they rent from, and stop landlords from profiting by cutting corners.”
Gavin Smart, chief executive at Chartered Institute of Housing said: “All renters should be able to live in decent, well-maintained homes. We welcome the commitment to introduce a new Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector as part of the government’s new deal for renters.
“We look forward to seeing the details set out in the consultation and discussing the proposals with our members.”
Simplify existing laws
In response to the proposal, Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said standards in the sector were already improving as private renters tended to be more satisfied with their homes than social tenants.
He added: “The government’s plans should focus on making it easier for private landlords, tenants and councils to understand what is expected of them by simplifying the almost 170 laws already affecting the sector. The plans need to also recognise crucial differences between private and social rented housing, including in the age and types of properties in each.
“In the end, all the laws in the world will do nothing without improved enforcement against the minority of landlords who tarnish the reputation of the responsible, law-abiding majority. That requires properly resourced councils tackling the criminals and rogues, whilst allowing the responsible majority to easily prove their home is safe and compliant.”
Yesterday, Mortgage Solutions reported that the same government department had opened a consultation to consider setting a regulatory standard for social housing rent.
