Overview
- The government confirmed all rented homes in England must meet a new Decent Homes Standard by 2035, with Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook saying the schedule gives landlords time and certainty.
- Renters’ groups and charities including Shelter and Generation Rent condemned the delay as unacceptable, warning of ongoing health risks from damp and mould and pointing to more than one million private rented homes in poor condition, including 337,000 families with children.
- Labour MPs attacked the move as a broken promise, and analysis noted the extended timeline means the party would need to win two further general elections to see the policy through while in office.
- The Big Issue reported the Renters’ Rights Act is now law with a ban on no‑fault evictions taking effect in May, yet campaigners say councils need funding now to enforce standards against rule‑breaking landlords.
- The policy shift follows a separate decision to cap, rather than scrap, leasehold ground rents at £250, and earlier Independent reporting that around 83 MPs receive rental income has intensified conflict‑of‑interest concerns.