Government Defends for Private Rental Reforms

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has defended the Government’s timeline to improve conditions in the private rented sector (PRS), despite criticism from MPs over a 10-year wait to implement key housing standards.

Speaking to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Pennycook said the Government’s timeline for applying the Decent Homes Standard to the PRS — by 2035 or 2037 — is intended to be “realistic”, giving landlords sufficient time to make necessary improvements.

The Government recently launched a consultation on Awaab’s Law and the wider Decent Homes Standard, aiming to address long-standing issues such as damp, mould, and property hazards in rental homes. Awaab’s Law, named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died from mould exposure in social housing, will require landlords to act quickly to fix hazards.

However, MPs expressed frustration at the extended timeline.

Committee chair Florence Eshalomi MP echoed concerns, warning that local authorities are under-resourced and unable to carry out inspections effectively. She described the current plans as merely “sticking tape” on deep-rooted problems, as renters across the country continue to suffer unsafe living conditions.

In response, Pennycook maintained that the Government had already taken urgent action through Awaab’s Law and expressed confidence in its broader housing targets, including the delivery of 1.5 million new homes within five years, although he acknowledged the need to “ramp up supply.”

As the consultation process continues, pressure is mounting on the Government to accelerate reforms and provide stronger support to both tenants and enforcement agencies.