Does the Decent Homes Standard apply to private landlords?

Does the Decent Homes Standard apply to private landlords? Not yet. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 lets the government apply a new Decent Homes Standard to private rented homes in England, and its January 2026 policy statement says it will apply from 2035. The government's January 2026 policy statement says the new standard will apply from 2035, when council enforcement against it begins. The regulations that set the detail had not been made when we checked on 16 October 2026. Your existing duties carry on. Homes must be free of category 1 hazards and fit to live in, and councils can already fine up to £7,000 for category 1 hazards. The government also says landlords should not leave all the work until the deadline. The Act applies it in England to homes let on assured tenancies (including assured agricultural occupancies) or regulated tenancies, plus supported exempt accommodation. Social housing let by registered providers falls under the social housing rules instead. Read the full answer, with every source, at rightotax.co.uk.