The Decent Homes Standard will only apply to the private rented sector from 2035, a timeline tenant group Generation Rent called “absurd”.
The standard means homes need to be free of hazards like mould, efficient heating and insulation, and have a relatively modern kitchen (less than 20 years old) and bathroom (less than 30 years old).
Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, said: “Homes are the foundations of our lives, but millions of renters are living in homes that are falling apart and dangerous to our health.
“This is terrible value for money as the rents we pay every month continue to soar. It is absurd to let landlords drag their feet for an entire decade, denying renters the most basic standards in our homes.
“It will mean millions of renters, including children, trapped living in poor quality homes with nowhere to turn.”
The Decent Home Standard only applies to social homes, while the social rented sector also has ‘Awaab’s Law’, via the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, which means landlords need to respond to property issues faster.
More than one in five private rented homes in England are currently ‘non-decent’, according to the English Housing Survey.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “Providing a decent, safe place to live should be the top priority for any landlord. Whilst we will study the detail carefully, we broadly welcome the government’s plans, which provide much-needed clarity for both landlords and tenants about the standards that should be expected of homes to rent.
“That said, all the standards in the world will mean nothing without robust enforcement to back them up. At present, too many councils lack the staff and resources needed to find and root out rogue landlords. Our research also shows many councils are failing to collect civil penalties issued against landlords even where they have been issued.
“It is time to ensure enforcement is properly funded and targeted, so that the cost of action falls on those breaking the rules, not the responsible majority of landlords already doing the right thing.”