Labour MPs have criticized Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook for what they perceive as a sluggish implementation timetable for the Decent Homes Standard within the private rental sector.

The government is currently consulting on this new standard, which is set to be introduced in principle as part of the Renters Rights Bill when it becomes law in the autumn. However, landlords are not expected to fully meet these new standards until well into the future, with some measures potentially not enforced until 2037.

The proposed standard, currently open for consultation until mid-September, is based on five key principles:

• Homes must be free from Category 1 hazards.
• Properties must be in a reasonable state of repair, with clear parameters defined.
• Homes should have reasonably modern facilities.
• They must meet new ‘thermal comfort requirements’ related to minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES).
• Properties must be free of any damp or mould.

The suggested implementation date for the new Decent Homes Standard is either 2035 or 2037. This extended lead-in time is intended to allow the sector to adapt to new minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) that are slated for introduction across all tenancies, both private and social, by 2030.

However, some Labour MPs are expressing anger over this slow rollout. During a Commons committee meeting, Sarah Smith MP stated that a “10 years seems extreme given the money being made in this sector, and the responsibility every single landlord should have to provide a home with running water, and free from damp and mould and rat infestations. Surely there could be greater urgency than 2035.” She also highlighted that “72 children die due to their living conditions between 2019 and 2024,” questioning the delay.

Influential MP Florence Eshalomi, who chairs the Commons housing select committee, also challenged Pennycook, noting the dire housing situation with “almost two million people on the housing waiting list” and local authorities spending “£2.29 billion” on housing. She stressed that unless different actions are taken, the government will continue to apply “sticking tape” to the crisis.

In response, Pennycook maintained the government’s stance on the timescale, stating they intend to “raise standards across the board, through an upgraded and modernised decent homes standard.” He drew a comparison to the previous Labour government’s decent homes programme, suggesting that similar timelines were accepted in the past.