Landlords get different deadlines to bring homes up to standard

The government has confirmed that an updated Decent Homes Standard won’t be applied to private rentals in England until 2035, but landlords in Scotland will have to meet tougher standards as early as this year. Letting agents will be well placed to help them meet the new rules by offering high-value assistance with regular inspections and maintenance management.

According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the longer implementation period in England will give landlords time to make any necessary repairs and upgrades. MHCLG notes that the social sector got a similarly long period for implementing the original Decent Homes Standard.  

But the Scottish government is taking a characteristically more bullish approach to reform. Under the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 (currently going through the Scottish Parliament), landlords will have statutory timelines to tackle damp and mould as of 6 October. If a landlord is notified or becomes aware of damp or mould, they will have to:

• Have a suitably competent person investigate within 10 working days

• After the investigation, give the tenant a written summary within 3 working days and start repairs (if needed) within 5 working days

• If they can’t comply quickly enough, they must notify the tenant as to why and provide an expected timeline for repairs

How many PRS homes will need work?

The 2024-25 English Housing Survey found that 22% of privately rented homes in England would fail the Decent Homes Standard.  

However, that’s a reference to the current Decent Homes Standard. Last year, the government consulted on potential changes to the standard, some of which would make it stricter (like requiring landlords to keep homes free of damp and mould), while others would be easier to meet (removing maximum ages for bathrooms and kitchens). Until we know what the final rules will be for private rental dwellings, landlords and their agents won’t know exactly what upgrades they need to make.

There’s also the more immediate issue of having to bring privately rented properties in England up to EPC C by 2030. Research from Reapit shows that this will affect 51.5% of all PRS homes, with a total retrofit bill estimated at £24bn. But like the Decent Homes Standard, EPC rules are currently under review, so it’s not yet clear what landlords will have to do to meet them.  

However, private landlords in England already have to ensure that their properties are free of Category 1 hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. From 1 May, councils will be able to hand out on-the-spot fines of up to £7,000 when these hazards are found.

Letting agents on both sides of the border can help landlords to identify properties at risk, understand the current rules and potential changes, and fix any hazards. And in Scotland, they will have a crucial role managing repair timeframes and communicating with tenants.

Reapit users can additionally flag works orders as serious hazards on the platform. Doing so requires them to set a review date for the order, helping make sure that deadlines aren’t missed.