Energy efficiency standards are improving in the PRS while more rented properties meet decent home standards compared to a decade ago.

The latest English Housing Survey reveals that private rented homes with an energy efficiency rating of band D dropped significantly from 43% in 2022 to 37% in 2024 with a subsequent increase in band C homes from 42% to 48%.

It follows the government announcement that all properties in the PRS will need to reach an EPC C by 2030, although this survey reckons it will cost an average of £7,040 – more than the £5,400 cited in its impact assessment last week.

New

Earlier this week, the government also announced that a new Decent Homes Standard would apply to both rented sectors from 2035. This survey found that although the PRS continued to have the highest proportion of non-decent dwellings (22%) of all sectors, since 2014, the proportion of private rented homes considered non-decent had dropped from 29%.

PRS homes in the North East (14%) were less likely to be non-decent than other regions, with the exception of the North West (22%), East of England (20%) and London (17%).

Hazard

In 2024, 9% or 2.3 million homes in England had a HHSRS Category 1 hazard, and these were more prevalent in private rented (10%) than other sectors. Damp problems were also more prevalent in private rented homes, with 10% having a problem in 2024, compared to 7% of social rented and 4% of owner-occupied homes.

The survey adds that levels of dangerous damp and mould continue to be high post-pandemic across all sectors, while levels of overcrowding in the rented sectors have increased significantly compared to ten years ago.

Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, says: “Clear guidance, targeted financial support, and sensible implementation timelines will be essential if we are to bring all homes up to modern standards without placing undue strain on households and the housing market.”

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