Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Deferred
Paragraph: 67
In respect of criteria B, C and D, the Government says it is considering a...
Conclusion
In respect of criteria B, C and D, the Government says it is considering a cap on costs, above which landlords would be considered compliant, as is already the case with the minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES). We agree with this, on the basis that it would be unreasonable and counter-productive to expose landlords with older stock to the cost of upgrades. In the case of the MEES and criterion D, however, this should not mean that some homes get neglected, especially given the extremely strong correlation between energy efficiency and decency. We also do not understand why the Government does not simply align criterion D with the MEES. It would seem an easy, if modest, simplification of an overly complicated regulatory regime.
Government Response Summary
The government is considering a cap on costs and alignment of criterion D with MEES, and is working to understand landlords’ circumstances through ongoing technical consultations.
Paragraph Reference:
67
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government welcomes the introduction of a legally binding Decent Homes Standard (DHS) and is committed to delivering this. The Decent Homes Standard will give tenants safer, better homes, and will make sure all private rented sector homes meet a minimum standard. Many tenants already live in decent homes, but over a fifth of the 4.6 million households that rent privately endure poor conditions, and 14% of homes have hazards that present an imminent risk to health – compared to 10% and 4% in the social rented sector respectively. The Decent Homes Standard will address this. The Standard has four criteria, all of which a home must meet to be considered decent: a) It must meet a minimum standard of repair. b) It must have reasonably modern facilities and services. c) It must provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort. d) It must have safe, useable amenities. The government has held technical consultations with stakeholders on how the Decent Homes Standard can be most effectively applied to the PRS. In order to ensure the Standard can be applied effectively to the PRS, the government is considering a number of implementation issues raised through this consultation, including: • The time landlords need to comply. • How to balance greater certainty and minimum standards with the specific and diverse circumstances of the private rented sector. • The need to align implementation with wider reforms to the PRS. For example, landlords will be required to declare that they are meeting the DHS on the new Property Portal. We are working to understand landlords’ circumstances, and how best to support them in complying with the new standard. This includes ensuring that we take a proportionate approach to the costs of meeting the standard, particularly for older properties, by exploring a cap on the costs landlords are expected to meet.