Government responds on reformed Decent Homes Standard consultation

The Government has published its response to the consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard (DHS), which ran from 2 July to 12 September 2025. The consultation sought views on modernising the existing standard and extending it beyond the social rented sector to cover privately rented homes for the first time. 

The full Government response can be accessed here: 

Consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes: government response 

This marks a significant step in the ongoing reform of housing quality regulation. Importantly, the new DHS will apply to both the social rented sector (SRS) and the private rented sector (PRS), meaning that tenants across all rented housing will benefit from a single, consistent baseline standard, regardless of who their landlord is.

The Government has confirmed that all rented properties must meet the new DHS by 2035 at the latest. This extended implementation period is intended to provide certainty and allow landlords to plan investment strategically, supporting both housing quality improvements and housing supply.

The DHS will apply to supported housing and temporary accommodation. The Government recognises the particular challenges this may present, and has stated that it will provide further guidance in the coming months to address how the DHS should be applied proportionately in these settings. Additional guidance will also cover rented homes where the landlord is a leaseholder, and mixed‑tenure blocks containing both rented and owner‑occupied leasehold properties. Detailed accompanying guidance is due to be published in the coming months.

As an overview, the new DHS will require:

Criterion A – A home must be free of the most dangerous hazards

Homes will be required to be free from the most serious risks to health and safety. This will be assessed by reference to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, with properties needing to be free from Category 1 hazards.

Criterion B – A home must be in a reasonable state of repair

A property will not meet this criterion where its condition falls below an acceptable standard. In particular, a home will be non‑decent where either one or more key building components is not in a reasonable state of repair, or where two or more other building components are not in a reasonable state of repair. 

Criterion C – A home must provide core facilities and services

In order to meet this criterion, flats must provide at least three of the following facilities:

• a kitchen with adequate space and layout;
• an appropriately located bathroom and WC;
• adequate insulation against external noise; and
• common entrance areas in blocks of flats that are of adequate size and layout.

In order to meet this criterion, houses must provide at least two of the following facilities:

• a kitchen with adequate space and layout;
• an appropriately located bathroom and WC; and
• adequate insulation against external noise.

In addition, homes must be fitted with child‑resistant window restrictors, capable of being overridden by an adult, on windows that present a risk of falls to children.

Criterion D – A home must provide thermal comfort

Homes must offer a reasonable degree of thermal comfort. This includes meeting applicable Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.

Criterion E – A home should be free of damp and mould

Homes will be treated as non‑decent where landlords have failed to address damp and mould.

If you have any questions regarding the reforms do contact Anna Bennett.