Decent Homes & the Private Rented Sector — Statistics
Headline figures on Decent Homes non‑decency, the size of the private rented sector, HHSRS hazards and the cost of poor housing — each attributed to its source. Essential context as the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 reshapes landlord duties.
Last reviewed 2026-07-15. Figures are refreshed on each English Housing Survey / ONS release.
of homes in England fail the Decent Homes Standard — millions of dwellings classed as "non-decent".
Source: EHS
private rented sector homes are non-decent — historically the highest non-decency rate of any tenure.
Source: EHS
households rent privately in England — around 19% of all households — all in scope of the incoming PRS Decent Homes Standard.
Source: EHS/ONS
of English homes are estimated to contain a Category 1 hazard under the HHSRS — the threshold that fails Decent Homes.
Source: EHS/DLUHC
estimated annual cost to the NHS of poor-quality housing in England, before the wider cost to society.
Source: BRE
of English homes have a damp problem, with condensation and mould the most common type — a prescribed HHSRS hazard.
Source: EHS
What the numbers mean for landlords and agents
Roughly one in seven English homes is "non‑decent", and the private rented sector carries the highest rate of any tenure (about one in five). With around 4.6 million private rentals in England, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025— which applies a Decent Homes Standard to the PRS and extends Awaab’s Law to private tenancies — brings a very large number of properties into a new compliance regime from 2026.
Because a single HHSRS Category 1 hazard (excess cold, damp and mould, falls, fire) fails the standard, and BRE estimates poor housing already costs the NHS around £1.4 billion a year, accurate, timely condition recording is becoming both a legal duty and a commercial necessity.
International housing standards & official data sources
PropertySurvey Pro is used across the UK, Ireland, North America, Australia, New Zealand, the Gulf, Singapore and India. Each market has its own rented‑housing or building standard and national statistics authority — the primary sources to cite for local figures.
| Market | Key housing / building standard | Official data source |
|---|---|---|
| United States | State landlord–tenant codes; International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) | U.S. Census Bureau — American Housing Survey (AHS) |
| Canada | Provincial residential tenancy & maintenance standards | Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) |
| Ireland | Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 | Central Statistics Office (CSO) |
| Australia | State/territory minimum standards for rental properties | Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) |
| New Zealand | Healthy Homes Standards (mandatory for private rentals since 1 July 2025) | Stats NZ; BRANZ House Condition Survey |
| Singapore | BCA Building Control Regulations; HDB standards | Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat) |
| UAE (Dubai & Abu Dhabi) | Dubai Building Code; Abu Dhabi construction standards | Dubai Statistics Center; Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi Building Code (SBC) | General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) |
| Qatar | Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS) | Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) |
| India | National Building Code of India 2016; Model Tenancy Act 2021 | Ministry of Statistics (MoSPI); Census of India |
Standards and statistics differ by jurisdiction and are revised over time — confirm the current standard and figures with the relevant national authority before relying on them.
Check any rental against the standard with the free Decent Homes & Renters’ Rights Act 2025 readiness checker.
Open the checker →Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of homes fail the Decent Homes Standard?
The English Housing Survey has reported around 14–15% of homes in England as "non-decent". The private rented sector has historically shown the highest rate — roughly one in five PRS homes — which is why the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 extends a Decent Homes Standard to the sector.
How big is the private rented sector?
Around 4.6 million households rent privately in England — about 19% of all households — according to the English Housing Survey and ONS. Every one of these tenancies is in scope of the incoming PRS Decent Homes Standard and the extension of Awaab’s Law.
What is a Category 1 hazard and how common is it?
A Category 1 hazard is the most serious band under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Estimates from the English Housing Survey put around 10–11% of English homes as containing one. A Category 1 hazard means a home fails the Decent Homes Standard and the local authority has a duty to act.
What does the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 change?
It abolishes Section 21 no-fault evictions, applies a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector for the first time, and extends Awaab’s Law (fixed timescales to investigate and fix hazards such as damp and mould) to private tenancies, with main provisions expected from 2026.
Sources & verification
Figures are approximate and drawn from published reports; they are revised between releases. Confirm the current values against the latest publication before relying on them in a report.
