‘Absurd’: decent homes standard for England’s private renters will not be enforced until 2035

Campaigners say government is letting landlords ‘drag their feet’ and ‘denying renters the most basic standards’

Labour’s promise to make private rented homes in England fit for habitation will not be enforced for almost a decade, a decision campaigners have described as “absurd”.

The timeline means landlords will have until 2035 to implement a new decent homes standard (DHS) in their properties, which will include “robust standards” to combat disrepair, damp and energy inefficiency.