Decent Homes Standard for the PRS: 2035 enforcement explained

The government has confirmed the Decent Homes Standard will apply to private rented homes in England from 2035. Here is what the standard requires and why landlords should start preparing now.

Decent Homes Standard arrives in the PRS — by 2035

The Decent Homes Standard (DHS) has applied to social housing for two decades. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 extends it to the private rented sector in England, and the government's policy statement (published 28 January 2026) confirms an implementation date of 2035 for the new DHS in both sectors — giving landlords a long runway to upgrade.

The new DHS itself is not yet in force in the PRS. Commencement regulations have not been made. But the standard has now been published, so this is the planning horizon you build against.

Under the new DHS, a home must meet five criteria:

1. Criterion A — free of the most dangerous ('category 1') HHSRS hazards 2. Criterion B — in a reasonable state of repair (key + other building components) 3. Criterion C — provides core facilities and services (kitchen, bathroom/WC, noise insulation, and child‑resistant window restrictors on windows presenting a fall risk) 4. Criterion D — provides thermal comfort, including the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards 5. Criterion E — free of damp and mould (HHSRS bands A–H fail)

MEES sits inside Criterion D and comes in earlier

The government has confirmed that MEES will be phased in ahead of the wider DHS:

PRS: all new and existing privately rented homes at EPC C or equivalent (under the reformed EPC metrics, fabric performance first) by 1 October 2030, subject to a £10,000 per‑property cost cap (this is the MEES/energy‑efficiency element only, not a whole‑DHS cap) and a 10‑year exemption via the PRS MEES Exemptions Register where the cap is reached.
SRS: first EPC C metric by 1 April 2030; second EPC C metric by 1 April 2039.

Homes already at EER Band C on the current EPC before 1 October 2029 keep the benefit of that EPC until it expires.

What is in force today

The new DHS itself is not yet enforceable in the PRS. What is in force today and already lets councils act:

HHSRS category 1 and 2 hazards (Housing Act 2004, Part 1)
Awaab's Law response times for damp & mould (currently social housing; being extended to the PRS)
Selective and additional HMO licensing conditions
The current MEES minimum (EPC E) in the PRS

The new DHS will sit on top of those when it commences.

Enforcement in the PRS

Local authorities will enforce the DHS in the PRS. Non‑compliance with enforcement notices will be a criminal offence, the maximum fine for non‑compliance rises from £30,000 to £40,000, and councils will get a new power to issue civil penalties of up to £7,000 for the most serious (criterion A) failures.

Documenting compliance

For each property, build an evidence pack:

Last EICR and Gas Safety
Last full property inspection with photos
Boiler service and age
Kitchen / bathroom installation dates
Damp & mould survey if any history
HHSRS / FFHHA risk assessment
Current EPC and any planned fabric / heating upgrades

LetSentry's Full Property Report bundles all of this into a PDF + XLSX export per property.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Detailed criteria and dates are set out in the government's policy statement and will be reflected in secondary legislation — check GOV.UK for the current position.

Sources: - The New Decent Homes Standard: policy statement (GOV.UK, 28 January 2026) (accessed 2026-07-20): https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-a-reformed-decent-homes-standard-for-social-and-privately-rented-homes/outcome/the-new-decent-homes-standard-policy-statement - Consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard: government response (GOV.UK) (accessed 2026-07-20): https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-a-reformed-decent-homes-standard-for-social-and-privately-rented-homes/outcome/consultation-on-a-reformed-decent-homes-standard-for-social-and-privately-rented-homes-government-response - Renters' Rights Act 2025 (legislation.gov.uk) (accessed 2026-07-20): https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/32/contents - Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: government response (GOV.UK) (accessed 2026-07-20): https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-2025-update

Published: 2026-05-25.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-30.

General summary; not legal advice.