Housing campaigners have launched strong criticism against the government following its latest announcement on reforms to the private rented sector.
Earlier this week, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed that landlords will be given until 2035 to meet a new Decent Homes Standard (DHS) across their properties.
The updated standard is intended to tackle long-standing problems such as damp, poor maintenance, and low energy efficiency, which continue to affect large numbers of rental homes across the country.
Pennycook said that both private and social landlords need sufficient preparation time to reach what he described as “robust standards” that would protect tenants from unsafe and unhealthy living conditions.
However, housing charities and campaign groups have reacted angrily, arguing that renters should not have to wait nearly another decade for homes that meet basic safety requirements.
Shelter’s newly appointed chief executive, Sarah Elliott, said the decision was deeply unfair to tenants who are already paying high rents for properties that are often in poor condition and damaging to their health.
She warned that millions of renters are currently living in homes affected by mould, damp and disrepair, and said it was unacceptable to delay proper protection for so long.
Elliott added that asking tenants to wait almost ten more years for decent housing only increases the pressure on families already struggling with rising living costs and limited housing options.
Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, Paula Barker, also spoke out against the policy, saying that families and children would remain trapped in dangerous and unsuitable housing for years to come.
She stressed that prolonged exposure to poor housing conditions could have serious long-term consequences for both physical and mental health, calling the decision shameful and unjustifiable.
Green Party MP Carla Denyer questioned why the government was willing to leave private renters in homes that may not be fit for habitation until 2035, describing the condition of much of the private rental sector as already unacceptable.
Ben Twomey, chief executive of housing campaign group Generation Rent, said allowing landlords such a lengthy transition period was unreasonable and would leave millions of renters with no choice but to remain in substandard accommodation.
He argued that basic housing standards should be enforced far sooner, particularly when children and vulnerable tenants are involved.
The Decent Homes Standard was originally introduced in the social housing sector in 2001, with councils expected to comply by 2010, although some authorities were granted deadline extensions.
Despite this, government figures from 2023 show that around 10% of social rented homes still fail to meet the current standard, which has not been updated since 2006 and is now considered outdated by ministers.
Under the new proposals, social landlords will also be required to meet tougher standards by 2035, placing both sectors under the same long-term timetable.
The government’s announcement also suggests it may remove an existing rule that requires kitchens and bathrooms to be replaced once they reach a certain age, even if they remain in good condition, which has raised further concerns among campaigners.
Not all responses have been negative. Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Association of Residential Landlords, said the deadline provides landlords with much-needed clarity and time to plan improvements.
He stated that offering safe and decent accommodation should always be a landlord’s priority and said the proposals set clearer expectations for both tenants and property owners.
Supporters of the policy argue that landlords face rising repair costs and labour shortages, making it unrealistic to enforce immediate large-scale upgrades across the sector.
Critics, however, insist that the focus must remain on tenants who are already living in unhealthy homes and cannot afford to wait another decade for meaningful action.
The disagreement highlights the growing divide between housing campaigners demanding urgent reform and landlords seeking practical timescales for compliance.
As the government moves forward with its housing strategy, pressure is expected to increase from charities, MPs and tenant groups calling for faster progress towards safe, decent and affordable homes for all renters.
Download NOW
4 Simple Steps To Becoming Wealthy Through Property