Written by Daniel Andrews, Partner & Solicitor, Cramp & Mullaney LLP
Last reviewed: April 2026
The Decent Homes Standard is a minimum quality standard that has applied to social housing in England since 2000. Private rented properties have not been subject to any equivalent standard. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 changes this by giving the Secretary of State the power to extend the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector, though the extension will not take effect until Phase 3 of the Act’s implementation, which is not expected before 2035.
What Is the Decent Homes Standard?
A property meets the Decent Homes Standard if it is free from Category 1 hazards as defined by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, is in a reasonable state of repair, has reasonably modern facilities and services, and provides adequate thermal comfort through effective heating and good insulation. The standard is not particularly demanding by the measure of a well-maintained modern property, but it does provide a meaningful baseline that a significant proportion of older private rented properties may struggle to meet without investment.
The Updated Standard for Private Renting
The Act empowers the Secretary of State to prescribe a version of the Decent Homes Standard for private renting. The Government consulted on the proposed standard between July and September 2025. The final standard will be confirmed in secondary legislation as part of Phase 3. Once in force, local housing authorities will be responsible for enforcement, with the power to inspect properties, assess them against the standard, and require landlords to carry out improvement works.
EPC C by 2030: A Related Obligation
Separately from the Decent Homes Standard, the Government has consulted on proposals to require all privately rented properties in England and Wales to meet minimum energy efficiency standards of EPC C or equivalent by 2030. This consultation closed in 2025 and the proposal has not yet been confirmed in legislation, but landlords with properties currently rated D, E, F, or G should treat it as a serious probability that will require investment within the next few years. Energy efficiency improvements often address both the thermal comfort element of the Decent Homes Standard and the EPC requirement simultaneously, making them a logical investment priority.
What Landlords Should Be Doing Now
The fact that Phase 3 is some years away does not mean the Decent Homes Standard can safely be ignored. Landlords with older stock who are aware that their properties may not currently meet the standard should begin planning investment now rather than waiting for the legal obligation to arrive. A property that requires significant improvement work is likely to be cheaper to upgrade over a planned timescale than under the pressure of an enforcement notice.
Priority areas include heating systems, particularly older boilers and properties without central heating; insulation, including loft, cavity wall, and where feasible solid wall insulation; bathroom and kitchen facilities that are beyond the reasonable age thresholds; and structural repairs that have been deferred. A professional condition survey of each property is a sensible starting point for understanding what investment is needed.
If you are a landlord in Kent with questions about your obligations in relation to property standards, our housing law team can advise you on both the current legal position and the incoming requirements.
If you are a landlord or tenant in Kent and need advice on the Renters' Rights Act 2025 or any landlord and tenant matter, Cramp & Mullaney LLP can help. We advise clients across Kent and the South East from our offices in Eastbourne (01323 720581) and Battle (01424 533222), East Sussex. We offer a fixed fee 30-minute initial consultation.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. If you need advice about your specific situation, please contact Cramp & Mullaney LLP on 01323 720581 (Eastbourne) or 01424 533222 (Battle), or email us at info@cmlaw.co.uk. We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 598851).
