The Dept' for levelling up, housing and communities has launched it's public consultation on the proposed new decent homes standard for homes in the private rented sector. The consultation runs from 2nd September to 14th October 2022.

The levelling up department says the consultation (which applies to England only) is primarily seeking responses/submissions on the introduction and enforcement of the new standard and the consultation document is, as expected, heavily footnoted with sources of background evidence on the private rented sector in England.

The document points out that current PRS standards are enforced by local authorities where hazards in the rented home have been identified by a local authority through inspection resulting either from a tenant complaint or via a licensing scheme. The understanding being that many poor properties or examples of poor landlord behaviour currently slip under the radar where no licensing scheme exists because otherwise, a council cannot simply march into a home without the legal trigger of a complaint.

Consultation responses are particularly sought from local authorities, tenants and private landlords but it is a public consultation so tenant support groups and third sector organisations as well as rental sector bodies should also consider submitting responses.

The consultation document and ways to respond to it can be accessed here.