Landlords

The Decent Homes Standard (DHS) sets out the minimum conditions that a rented home must meet to be considered safe and decent. It was originally introduced in 2001 and last updated in 2006, applying only to social housing. It will now be introduced to the private rented sector for the first time, as part of the Renters’ Rights Act, which received Royal Assent in October 2025.

The new Decent Homes Standard will apply to private rented properties from 2035. While that gives landlords time to prepare, the government is clear that landlords should not delay all action until the end of the implementation period. Early action can help spread costs and avoid rushed, expensive works closer to the deadline.

To be considered decent, a home must meet five criteria:

• Criterion A – free of the most dangerous (category 1) hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
• Criterion B – in a reasonable state of repair, covering key building components such as the roof, walls, windows, external doors, and heating systems
• Criterion C – providing core facilities, including an adequate kitchen, appropriately located bathroom and WC, and child-resistant window restrictors on windows that present a fall risk
• Criterion D – able to provide thermal comfort, including meeting Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
• Criterion E – free of damp and mould that the landlord has failed to remedy

The two are closely linked. Criterion D of the Decent Homes Standard requires homes to provide thermal comfort, which includes meeting Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. This means that achieving an EPC rating of C by 2030 (as required under MEES) will also contribute towards meeting the Decent Homes Standard. Improving your property’s energy performance now helps you work towards both requirements at once.

Local councils will have strengthened enforcement powers, including the ability to issue civil penalties of up to £40,000 for certain lettings breaches. If a landlord fails to comply with enforcement action, they can be criminally prosecuted, and the tenant or local council can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a rent repayment order.

While this transition represents a significant step toward energy security and tenant comfort, it also introduces new complexities in compliance, spending caps, and exemption eligibility. At Retrofit West, we provide the expert, independent guidance you need to future-proof your portfolio and navigate these changes with confidence.

We can help with:

• Strategic compliance: The 2030 deadline for EPC Band C isn’t a one-size-fits-all requirement. We help you map out a practical timeline for your portfolio, ensuring you stay compliant and avoid the new £30,000 non-compliance penalties.
• Exemption assessment: Not every property can reach Band C through standard upgrades. We specialise in identifying where technical, financial, or “low-value” exemptions apply.
• Financial navigation: New rules include a £10,000 spending cap, or 10% of property value for lower-equity assets. We help calculate your exact investment obligations and ensure any improvements made since October 2025 are correctly backdated against your limit.
• Grant integration: The funding landscape is changing. We help you access national grants, like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and local West of England incentives to offset costs for your properties and tenants.

If you’ve made all possible energy efficiency improvements but your property still does not meet an EPC rating of E, you may qualify for the “all relevant improvements made” exemption.

Landlords are never required to spend more than £10,000 (including VAT) on energy efficiency improvements.

If, after spending up to this cap, your property still falls below an E rating, you must register an “all relevant improvements made” exemption, confirming that all cost-effective measures have been completed.

Bedroom numbers are determined by how the property would normally be sold on the open market, not by its current setup or use (such as an HMO).

Where two or more properties are assessed on the same day, a 10% multi-property discount can be applied to the total cost. 

Listed buildings are sometimes exempt from meeting these regulations. They still will need an active EPC with recommendations to improve the score, but where implementing those recommendations would unacceptably alter the character or appearance of the building, it may be exempt from compliance. 

For more information, contact our advisors today!

Local authorities enforce MEES regulations, and they have a range of power to ensure compliance.  

 If you are found to be in breach of regulations the maximum fine per property is as high as £5,000.  

Our expert advisors will be able to assess whether you are eligible for any funding to install the appropriate energy efficiency measures.

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is a UK government initiative to improve energy efficiency in homes via fabric and heating upgrades. 

To qualify for upgrades, tenants must meet one of the following eligibility pathways: 

Pathway 1 – IMD:ID Postcodes 

• Household is in a postcode within Income Deciles 1–2 (most deprived areas).

Pathway 2 – Income Proxies 

• Household receives means-tested benefits, or 
• Qualifies under ECO4 Flex Route 2. 

Pathway 3 – Income Threshold 

• Household gross annual income is below £36,000, or 
• Below the adjusted ‘After Housing Costs’ threshold based on household composition. 

Private Rented Sector (PRS) Landlord Funding 

• One home per landlord can be fully funded under the scheme. 
• For additional properties, landlords must contribute 50% of the upgrade cost. 
• Tenants are not required to pay any portion of the costs. 
• There is no restriction on the number of properties a landlord owns (unlike previous schemes). 
• Landlords can upgrade multiple properties, provided: 
• Each property meets eligibility criteria. 
• The landlord pays 50% of costs from the second property onward. 
• They do not exceed the scheme’s minimum financial assistance limit. 

Required Forms 

Local authorities will collect landlord information via: 

• Landlord Declaration Form – completed by landlords. 
• MS Form (online) – completed by the local authority after verifying ownership details (matched to title deeds). Data will be stored in a central database managed by DESNZ.