Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats (MKLD) have slammed the Government’s decision to delay enforcing the Decent Homes Standard for private renters until 2035.
They are warning that thousands of renters across the city are being left to put up with poor housing for nearly another decade.
The Decent Homes Standard is meant to ensure that rented homes are safe, warm and properly maintained; tackling issues like damp and mould, broken heating, unsafe electrics and poor insultation.
The Labour Government has now confirmed that these standards won’t be enforced for another nine years.
MKLD says that with more than 20,000 private renters across the city, the delay means residents will continue to live in cold, damp or unsafe conditions. Paying high energy bills and struggling to get landlords to carry out basic repairs.
They say the decision completely undermines the progress promised under the Renters’ Rights Act and leaves renters with rights that exist on paper but not in reality.
“This is a real kick in the teeth for private renters," said Councillor Clare Tevlin, spokesperson for housing, "Residents across the city were promised decent and safe homes. But instead, they’ve been told to wait until 2035. This means more years of damp, mould, cold homes and repairs being ignored.
“For private renters, this isn’t about policy or paperwork, it’s about day-to-day life. It’s about raising children in unhealthy homes, older residents living in the cold, and renters paying more and more for homes that aren’t good enough," she added, "We’ll continue to push for these standards to be enforced much sooner so local people get the decent homes they were promised.”
MKLDare calling on the Government to bring forward enforcement of the Decent Homes Standard and to give the City Council more power to take action on poor quality housing now.
