The release of the Govt's white paper on its Levelling Up agenda has been met with mixed reviews, certainly with regard to the plans to improve property standards in the private rented sector. Whilst generally welcomed for its ambitious goals there has been scepticism about deliverability. The CIEH (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health) has "warmly welcomed" the plans and called the commitments to improving property standards in the private rented sector a "step in the right direction". Dr Phil James, the CIEH Chief Executive says of the plan for 50% of rented homes to reach a minimum Decent Homes Standard by 2030 that Local Authorities "need to see more detail" on how they will be supported in enforcing that standard.

Luke Murphy of think tank IPPR North says the proposal is "bold" but points out that there is no new funding to enforce the plan in the private rented sector and that "cold hard cash is needed too". Given that the NAO (National Audit Office) recently reported that 13% (about 589,000 homes) of private rented properties had at least one category 1 hazard posing a serious threat to health & safety, Local Authorities, Landlords and Tenants will all want to know where the funding is going to come from to achieve the outcome the Government wants by 2030. Most Local Authorities don't have the data on all privately rented properties in their areas and at present the only seriously concrete data available will come from mandatory HMO licensing records or the minority of authorities that have selective licensing schemes in operation. Hopefully the proposed National Landlord Register will fill that data black hole.