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14/7/25 8:13 pm
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More than 924,000 (21%) of England’s private rented homes are non-decent, putting tenants’ health and safety at risk, according to a new study.
The North West has the highest percentage of homes falling into the non-decent category, with 18% not being up to a decent standard and 27% of private rental properties. Yorkshire and the Humber is only slightly behind, with 17.8% of all homes being classified as non-decent, but 31% of private rental properties.
Calderdale in West Yorkshire has the highest proportion of non-decent private rental homes where 42% have serious issues.
Cash house buyer Sell House Fast conducted its study of government data to reveal the percentage of non-decent homes and found that private rentals came out on top across many categories.
Basildon and Wokingham are tied as the two council areas with the lowest proportion of non-decent homes; residents of these areas are more likely to be satisfied with the safety of their home, as only 7.3% of all homes have significant issues.
Non decent is defined as a home that either contains a serious health and safety hazard (a Category 1 hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)) or is in a state of disrepair, lacks reasonably modern facilities, or is not adequately insulated or heated.
Once the Renters’ Rights Act goes live, these properties will eventually have to meet the Decent Homes Standard – probably by 2030 - with local council officers empowered to hand out big new fines.
In 2023, the most common serious problems were falls on stairs with 207,208 incidents reported by private renters, followed by 114,373 incidences of excess cold.
MD Jack Malnick says: “Tripping hazards and structural issues are especially problematic, as falls on stairs can be extremely dangerous and lead to serious injury. Often, uneven floors and loose wires can be an easy fix to eliminate this category one issue.”
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