The Renters Rights Bill - Decent Home Standard
The Renters Rights Bill will introduce a Decent Homes Standard (DHS) in the private rented sector for the first time. Here we look at what that is and its enforcement.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will allow regulations to be made setting out DHS requirements for private rented sector homes and will provide local councils with effective and proportionate enforcement powers.
The government hopes that the DHS will help landlords by clarifying requirements and establishing a level playing field, backed up by consistent enforcement.
The DHS will apply to the vast majority of private rented homes, including all PRS homes let on assured tenancies. The standard will also apply to privately rented supported housing occupied both under tenancies and licences.
If a privately rented property fails to meet DHS requirements, the local council will have a range of enforcement mechanisms available. This includes, for example, issuing an improvement notice requiring the landlord to remedy the failure within a specified timescale.
Landlords who fail to comply with enforcement action can be subject to a civil penalty or criminal prosecution. If such an offence is committed, the tenant or local council can also apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a rent repayment order.
The bill plans to introduce a legal duty on landlords to ensure their property meets the DHS. For landlords who fail to take reasonably practical steps to keep their properties free of serious hazards, local councils will also have a new power to issue civil penalties of up to £7,000.