Navigating Housing Conditions and Tenant Rights: Reflections from the NRLA Panel
- Good Landlord Charter
- Nov 17, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
In November, I joined a panel at the 2025 National Residential Landlords Association conference. I had the pleasure of speaking alongside Linda Cobb OBE, Principal Manager at DASH and Juliet Mountford, Executive Director at Crisis. We discussed one of the most pressing topics in housing today: property conditions and tenant rights. The session, “Navigating Housing Conditions and Tenant Rights: What Landlords Need to Know,” explored the implications of the new Decent Homes Standard (DHS) and application of Awaab’s law for the private rented sector.
As almost 80% of the private rented sector (PRS) currently meets the DHS, the chances are that the landlords in attendance already provide good homes. But with the uncertainty around exactly what the DHS will mean in the PRS, and when it will be implemented, there are understandably a lot of questions. The consistent message from everyone called for additional resources from the government for safe, informed, and effective implementation and enforcement to take place.
What do we know about the proposed new Decent Homes Standard?
The consultation for the new standard ran from July to September 2025. There are a number of proposals on the details of how it will operate. It has been proposed that it will be implemented between 2035 to 2037, but this is under consultation along with the implementation date for Awaab’s Law in the PRS.
The proposed new standard will bring consistency and clarity to both private and social housing. Those in attendance broadly welcomed this consistency as it is something that has been called for by NRLA and tenant groups.
Another win is the removal of the existing standard that states kitchens and bathrooms must be replaced after a specific number of years following installation. The new standard will place importance on amenities being usable and reasonably modern. With the overall standard aiming for a reasonable state of repair, thermal comfort, and of course, no Category 1 hazards and free from damp and mould. This led the conversation into preparing for Awaab’s Law coming to the PRS.
Awaab's Law
The advice is not to wait for an implementation plan; prepare now. Moving away from reactive repairs to scheduled maintenance should happen now. A lot of landlords are already doing this; budgeting for this now will save money in the long term. Ensuring every step of this process is documented is important. Keep track of the efforts you are making to train tradespeople, build relationships and implement tech solutions. The key messages from the panel were to ensure diligent record keeping and, as always, work collaboratively with tenants.
Approach to inspections
At the Good Landlord Charter, we believe that good housing standards start with good relationships. Strong landlord and tenant relationships were echoed by Linda Cobb, who spoke about the value of taking a regular and empathetic approach to inspections. Linda highlighted how essential it is to balance maintaining an asset with providing a home.
The Charter recognises that regular inspections carried out with tenants, rather than simply on them, are a vital part of maintaining safe and decent homes. When tenants are part of the process, reporting issues early, understanding what to expect, and seeing that landlords are proactive, everyone benefits. Problems are solved faster, trust is built, and compliance becomes less about box ticking and more about shared responsibility.
At the Good Landlord Charter, this principle of collaboration sits at the centre of our approach. We are developing support and guidance to help landlords not only be compliant, but also build better communication with tenants. This leads to meaningful inspections and practical steps to meet the new standards. Our goal is to make it easier for landlords to do the right thing, not just because regulation demands it, but because it is the foundation of a fairer and more sustainable private rented sector.
The importance of collaboration
Juliet Mountford, Executive Director at Crisis, spoke on the work of Goodplace Lettings. Juliet’s contribution reminded us that decent homes are not only about compliance, but about partnership and respect. When landlords and tenants see each other as collaborators rather than opponents, outcomes improve across the board, from property conditions to tenancy sustainment.
In a post-Renters’ Rights Act world, collaboration is not just good practice; it is essential. By working together, landlords, tenants, and local partners can ensure that every rented home in Greater Manchester is safe, decent, and well-managed. The Charter exists to make that possible, by recognising landlords who go above and beyond, and by supporting those who want to get there.
The Charter welcomes all residential landlords to join and get the support they want to change Greater Manchester for the better.
