Tenant right
Your home must meet the Decent Homes Standard
For the first time, private landlords must ensure their properties meet the Decent Homes Standard — the same standard that applies to social housing.
What the standard requires
A decent home must: be free from serious hazards (Category 1 hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System); be in a reasonable state of repair; have reasonably modern facilities and services; and provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort (effective heating and insulation).
What counts as a serious hazard
Category 1 hazards include damp and mould, excess cold, falls on stairs, fire risks, electrical hazards, and structural collapse. These are assessed using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
How to report a breach
Report to your local council's housing enforcement team. Councils have a duty to act on Category 1 hazards and can issue improvement notices, prohibition orders, and fines of up to £30,000. The Decent Homes Standard gives councils stronger enforcement powers in the private sector.
Your right to repair
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, your landlord is already responsible for keeping the structure, exterior, heating, and plumbing in repair. The Decent Homes Standard adds a further layer of enforceable standards on top of this.
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