Six in 10 landlords support the introduction of a minimum set of property standards for the private rented sector, new research from Paragon Bank has indicated.

A survey of over 500 landlords revealed 34% strongly support the measure, with 28% expressing general support. A further 8% were not aware of plans to introduce minimum standards to the sector.

The Government has pledged to introduce a Decent Homes Standard for privately rented property as part of its Renters Reform Bill and has consulted on measures that could be introduced. A Decent Homes Standard was introduced for the social housing sector in 2001, which saw the proportion of homes that do not meet the Standard reduce from 39% in 2001 to 13% in 2020.

Paragon suggested the private rented sector has experienced a “significant improvement” in the standard of homes over the past 15 years, correlating with the growth of buy-to-let finance.

In 2008, 44% of homes in the sector were defined as “non-decent” according to the Government’s English Housing Survey. Today, that figure stands at 23%.

However, according to Paragon’s latest research, landlords are still expressing frustration at a lack of action to drive out rogue elements of the sector. Three quarters of respondents (74%) said they felt frustrated that local authorities do not act against landlords who let sub-standard homes.

Paragon managing director of mortgages, Richard Rowntree, commented: “The vast majority of landlords have nothing to fear from a Decent Homes Standard as they are providing a good quality home to their tenants already. It’s the minority of landlords who don’t meet these standards that are tarnishing the wider reputation of the sector.

“We employ our own in-house team of surveyors, who assess a rental property to a stringent standard, so we act as a natural barrier to poor quality homes entering the sector. Landlords have made great strides in improving the standards of rental property over the past 15 years and they should be celebrated.”

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