The regulation and enforcement of the Decent Homes Standard for private rented homes will be conducted by local authorities, the government confirmed.
The maximum fine for non-compliance will be £40,000.
It said the timeline should allow for landlords to implement other regulatory changes, such as the Renters’ Rights Act, but said landlords should wait until the standards are introduced to make changes.
Further guidance for tenants and landlords will be published later in the year, including how it will be applied to leasehold properties, to include the respective responsibilities of owner-occupiers and landlords.
Social and privately rented homes must meet certain criteria under the Decent Homes Standard.
The first states that a home must be free from dangerous hazards, while the second says homes should be in a reasonable state of repair.
The third requires homes to provide core facilities and services, including a kitchen with adequate space and layout, and an appropriately located bathroom and toilet and adequate external noise insulation. For blocks of flats, there is an additional requirement to have an adequate size and layout of common entrance areas.
The standards also require homes to provide thermal comfort, including measures in the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), and be free of damp and mould.
Further, homes should be fitted with child-resistant window restrictors that can be overridden by an adult and prevent the risk of falls.
The policy statement said: “To achieve lasting change for tenants, landlords will need to develop long-term plans to improve existing homes alongside building new homes and giving tenants a fairer deal – this will need investment and commitment over the next decade. That is why we are setting an implementation date of 2035 for the new Decent Homes Standard in both sectors.
“This is comparable to the 10-year target set for the first Decent Homes Standard, introduced in 2001, which required all social housing to meet set standards of decency by 2010.”
“Action to keep homes safe is a priority. While landlords will have until 2035 to bring their homes in line with new decency requirements, landlords will have to continue to meet their existing legal obligations to keep their homes in repair and fit for habitation,” it added.
The government will also consult on the application of Awaab’s Law to the private rental sector, requiring landlords to deal with reported hazards in a timely manner.
