A new mapping tool designed to identify likely substandard private rented hotspots could make it easier for councils to target rogue landlords and enforce the Decent Homes Standard.

Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a Non-Decent Index (NDI), which uses housing, census and energy performance data to predict where homes are most likely to fail the standard, which private landlords will need to meet in 2035.

About 22% of privately rented homes are currently classified as non-decent, compared with 10% in the social housing sector.

Local authorities are expected to play a key role in enforcing the new standards, but the report argues that a lack of detailed information on where poor-quality homes are located has hampered enforcement efforts.

Change

The NDI aims to change that by identifying neighbourhoods where there is both a large private rented sector and a high likelihood of homes failing the Decent Homes Standard. Rather than relying solely on tenant complaints, councils could use the tool to proactively target inspections, enforcement activity and communications with landlords.

The report says the index could also help provide evidence to support selective licensing schemes and other place-based interventions.

Findings

Its findings suggest that landlords operating poor-quality homes may find it increasingly difficult to avoid scrutiny once councils have access to both the upcoming PRS landlord database and tools capable of pinpointing areas most at risk of housing standards failures.

It could also help authorities move away from reactive enforcement and towards a more targeted approach.

Researcher Dr Michael Marshall says work needs to begin now to identify failing homes. “This research shows that the NDI is able to accurately predict areas with a high frequency of health and safety hazards in private rented homes,” he adds. “The NDI can be used to target inspections and communications, inform the implementation of the Decent Homes Standard, and evidence the need for place-based interventions that improve housing conditions.”

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