What is the Decent Homes Standard and which properties does it apply to?

Full answer

The Decent Homes Standard (DHS) sets out what counts as an acceptable minimum standard for a dwelling in England. A property meets the standard only if it passes four tests: it is free of the most serious health and safety hazards as assessed under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS); it is in a reasonable state of repair, so key building elements are not old and in poor condition; it has reasonably modern facilities and services, such as a kitchen and bathroom of an adequate age and layout; and it provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort through effective insulation and efficient heating. Who it affects: the standard has long applied to social housing provided by councils and housing associations, who are expected to keep their stock decent. Government policy has set out an intention to extend the Decent Homes Standard to privately rented homes through housing legislation, which would for the first time give private tenants a comparable baseline. Because the detail and timing of that extension depend on regulations that are still being finalised, check the current position on gov.uk rather than assuming a fixed start date. The DHS sits alongside other tenant protections: landlords already have repairing obligations under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and serious hazards can be enforced by the local council through the HHSRS regardless of tenure. The standard is about the condition of the building, not rent levels or energy bills directly, although better insulation under the thermal comfort test can reduce running costs. If you rent and your home has damp, faulty heating, electrical danger or disrepair, you can report it to your landlord in writing and, if unresolved, to your local council's environmental health team. Social housing tenants can also escalate complaints to the Housing Ombudsman.