The Government has announced that it will launch a consultation on decent housing standards as soon as possible, with the aim of ensuring homes in the private rented and social housing sector are safe and secure.
Adequate housing standards already apply to the social sector and current requirements are: 
1) The property should be in good repair
2) It must also have modern facilities and services.
3) It is necessary to provide adequate thermal comfort.
The consultation also includes new disclosure requirements for housing associations, which will enable the sector's 2.5 million households to hold landlords to account.
Another area to be addressed in the consultation is competence and standards of conduct for the social rented sector, aiming to ensure staff have the right skills to fulfil the role they play in supporting the most vulnerable people in society.
Modern facilities
These new standards will also include qualification requirements for senior managers and officers to ensure residents are treated with respect and dignity.
In the same announcement, the government said it would bring forward legislation on the Weaab Law into the autumn, meaning hazards such as damp and mould must be investigated and remedied within set deadlines.
It is not yet clear how long this process will take, but Angela Rayner reiterated her commitment to “ensuring that people have safe and comfortable housing” during an appearance with Laura Kuhnberg on Sunday.
Industry response
Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “Estate agents want safe and secure homes across the private rented sector, so extending the Decent Housing Standard and the Awake Act to the private rented sector is a welcome step.”
“However, understanding different property types and closer partnerships in working with agents, tenants and landlords will be key to the success of these measures.
“Furthermore, many estate agents already operate to professional standards and so will want to know how, through the consultation process, the UK Government can ensure that local authorities are adequately resourced and funded to ensure they can effectively enforce the new rules.”
