More than one in five privately rented homes in England — approximately 1.027 million properties — could soon be deemed illegal under new legislation tied to the Decent Homes Standard, a recent analysis has found.
The research, conducted by property software provider Inventory Base, reveals that a significant portion of the private rental market fails to meet the government’s proposed minimum housing requirements. These standards, part of the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill, are set to become legally binding for private landlords, with phased compliance deadlines in 2035 and 2037.
The Decent Homes Standard, already mandatory in the social housing sector since 2006, stipulates that properties must be safe, in a reasonable state of repair, and energy efficient.
Private Sector Lagging Behind
While 10.3% of social housing still fails to meet these criteria — equating to 428,000 homes — the private sector’s shortfall is more pronounced. Inventory Base’s figures show that 21% of privately rented homes in England fall below the standard, far outpacing the 15.8% failure rate across all private dwellings.
“The Renters’ Rights Bill represents one of the most disruptive overhauls of England’s rental sector in a generation,” said Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base. “If the Decent Homes Standard becomes law for private rentals, over a million homes will need substantial upgrades.”
Mounting Pressure on Landlords
Landlords are expected to grapple with a wide range of reforms, including the end of fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs), curbs on no-fault evictions, and new rights for tenants to keep pets.
“The scale of the work ahead is massive, time-intensive, and costly,” Hemming-Metcalfe warned. “Without a clear support structure, the most likely outcomes are widespread non-compliance or an accelerated sell-off by landlords.”
Industry Calls for Clarity and Action
The findings come amid growing concern about the feasibility of implementing the new regulations. With around 3.78 million residential properties across England failing to meet the Decent Homes Standard — including both private and social housing — industry leaders are urging the government to provide clearer guidance.
“Agents and landlords need clarity now,” Hemming-Metcalfe stressed. “They must know where they stand, what’s expected by 2035 or 2037, and how they can start bridging the gap.”
She also criticised the extended timeline for enforcement, suggesting it enables prolonged inaction.
“Deferring implementation isn’t strategic — it’s negligent. Millions of tenants will remain in substandard housing for another decade, despite the fact we already have the data and tools to drive progress. What’s missing is urgency — and the investment to scale change.”
As the Renters’ Rights Bill progresses through Parliament, landlords, tenants, and agents alike are bracing for what could become one of the most significant transformations in England’s rental housing landscape in decades.