Safe Homes Cannot Wait

The Government is right to place housing as a top priority. England’s housing stock is the oldest in Europe, and around 8.5 million people are living with unmet housing needs. It is simply not good enough for families to be living in Dickensian conditions in 2026.

From the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act this May, to Awaab’s Law, and the delayed Warm Homes Plan, the tide is slowly turning in the right direction. The Liberal Democrats believe everyone has the right to a safe, secure, and adequate home, and these measures signal important progress.  

However, so much more can be done, and done sooner, to reduce energy bills and make people’s homes healthier. That’s why it is so disappointing to see full enforcement of the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) for private landlords pushed back to 2035. 

Landlords understandably need time and certainty to prepare, but for the millions of renters living with persistent damp, mouldy walls, or structural disrepair, reform may come too late. The English Housing Survey found that 21% of privately rented homes already fail to meet the DHS and shockingly more than 4,000 people die from cold homes every year. This decision will leave renters, including children, living in poor-quality housing that may have lasting impacts on their health.

Crucially, stronger standards will mean nothing if they lack the necessary enforcement to back them up. Change must go together with strengthening local authorities’ resources to root out rogue landlords and ensure that the burden falls on those breaking the rules, not responsible landlords who are doing the right thing.

If the government is serious about cutting energy bills and ending substandard housing, urgency must match ambition. The Liberal Democrats will continue to hold the Government to account to ensure the private rented market is made fairer for all.