Time running out to comment on decent homes plans

Landlords have been urged to share their views on the proposed new decent homes standard by taking part in an online consultation.

The standard – set out in the Fairer Renting white paper – aims to match standards in the social rented sector but includes adjustments for the PRS such as removing the requirement for kitchens and bathrooms to be of a certain age.

Legal duty

However, the government plans to introduce a legal duty on landlords to ensure their property meets the standard; failure to do so would be a criminal offence dealt with by either a civil penalty or prosecution in the magistrate’s court. It would also be made a banning order offence.

Questions in the consultation include whether local councils should have the discretion to temporarily exempt a landlord if they buy a property with sitting tenants that does not meet the standard and if landlords should use the new property portal to register compliance.

Criminal charges

One landlord says he’s concerned about the suggestion that criminal charges should be brought against landlords for non-compliance. He explains: “I have been very vocal in the form saying that you can only bring in criminal charges against landlords, provided you make it fair, and bring in criminal charges for tenants who do not pay rent or trash a property. Hopefully somebody in the government might actually listen and realise how unfair the system and proposals are.”

The standard outlines that a decent home in the PRS must meet the current statutory minimum standard for housing, be in a reasonable state of repair, have reasonable facilities and services, and provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort.

Landlords have until Friday 14^th October to fill in the survey online.