CIOB responded in the form of a letter to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes.

The consultation aims to update the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) which currently applies to social housing. The new standard will also apply to privately rented housing. The reformed DHS aims to set out what tenants should expect from their landlords and when it will be implemented.

The consultation closed on 12 September 2025.

In our response, CIOB voiced strong support for the principle of an updated DHS, whilst also emphasising the need for an accompanying funding programme, clear guidance, and a cultural shift towards prevention, resident engagement, and long -term investment in existing homes.

CIOB welcomed the numerous positive recommendations in the consultation, some of which include the proposed extension of the DHS to the private rented sector (PRS) through the Renters’ Rights Bill, the removal of the age condition from the definition of disrepair, and the introduction of Criterion E to the DHS to extend Awaab’s Law to the PRS.

CIOB’s full response can be downloaded below. We await further information from the MHCLG and will update in due course.

The link to the original consultation can be found here: Consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes - GOV.UK