What it means
The Renters' Rights Act extends the Decent Homes Standard to privately rented homes. A decent home:
- is free of category 1 hazards;
- is in a reasonable state of repair;
- has reasonably modern facilities and services (kitchen, bathroom, layout, noise insulation);
- provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort — effective insulation and efficient heating.
Enforcement
Councils will be able to require works and impose civil penalties for non-compliance.
Getting ahead
Use your inspection reports to score each property against the four criteria now. Typical early actions are replacing kitchens and bathrooms beyond their expected life, improving heating controls, and dealing with condensation-related damp before it becomes a hazard.