Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

MPs Urge Landlord Fees to Fund PRS Enforcement and Faster Standards Rollout

MPs have recommended that landlord registration fees should be used to fund local authority enforcement in the private rented sector (PRS). The Housing Committee also called for incentives to encourage landlords to meet the Decent Homes Standard sooner and for a clear timeline for introducing Awaab’s Law to the PRS.

The Housing Committee’s report, “Housing conditions in the Private Rented Sector,” welcomed government plans to raise standards in the PRS over the next decade. However, it stated that more action is needed to ensure improvements are made promptly and effectively.

The committee supported the extension of the Decent Homes Standard to the PRS, but noted that the 2035 deadline could result in some landlords delaying necessary upgrades. It recommended that the government establish incentives to encourage earlier compliance, so tenants are not left waiting for improvements.

MPs expressed disappointment at the lack of a timeline for introducing Awaab’s Law to the PRS. They recommended that the government begin rolling out Awaab’s Law this year, with full implementation across the sector by the end of 2028/29.

The report also advised that landlord registration fees for the Private Rented Sector Database should be set at a level sufficient to fund a substantial increase in local authority capacity. The committee said this income should be ring-fenced annually to support regulatory activities, and that the database could play a greater role in raising standards and deterring false information from landlords.

Additionally, the committee recommended that local authorities take enforcement action against all breaches of the Decent Homes Standard, not just those related to the most dangerous hazards. Concerns were also raised about the effectiveness of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) due to come into effect in 2030, particularly if local authorities are not adequately resourced to enforce them.

The committee’s recommendations are aimed at ensuring that new standards and protections in the PRS are enforceable and that local authorities have the resources needed to uphold them.