The overall prevalence of non-decent homes in England decreased from 17% in 2019 to 15% in 2023, according to the Ministry of Housing’s 2025 English Housing Survey. Improvements were driven by reductions in the owner-occupied sector (16% to 14%) and social rented sector (12% to 10%), though the private rented sector saw no significant change.
1. Understanding the Baseline: What Defines a “Non-Decent Home”?
A dwelling is classified as non-decent if it fails to meet the Decent Homes Standard, which requires:
- Reasonable state of repair
- Modern facilities (e.g., kitchens < 20 years old)
- Effective heating and insulation
- Freedom from Category 1 hazards (e.g., severe damp, structural risks).
The 2% drop in non-decency (2019–2023) equates to roughly 500,000 homes upgraded to meet basic living standards.
2. Sector-Specific Breakdown: Where Progress Accelerated
Owner-Occupied Homes
- Reduction: 16% → 14%
- Drivers: Rising energy efficiency upgrades (52% of homes now in bands A–C) and increased loft/wall insulation (53% of dwellings).
Social Rented Sector
- Reduction: 12% → 10%
- Drivers: Local authority investments in damp remediation and heating systems (95% now have central heating).
Private Rented Sector
- Stagnation: No statistically significant improvement.
- Persistent Issues: 10% still have Category 1 hazards (vs. 4% in social housing), and 9% suffer from damp (double the owner-occupied rate).
3. The Hidden Crisis: Damp and Mould in Context
Despite overall progress, damp prevalence rose to 5% nationally – the highest in five years. Private rentals remain disproportionately affected:
- Serious condensation: 3% nationally, but 7% in local authority homes.
- Financial barriers: Landlords often delay repairs due to costs averaging £7,320 for energy efficiency upgrades.
4. Policy Levers and Market Forces
- Regulatory Pressure: The Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 accelerated social sector improvements.
- Market Failures: Private landlords lack incentives to invest without tenant turnover or rental premiums.
While England’s housing stock is slowly improving, the private rented sector demands urgent policy intervention to protect tenants from hazardous living conditions.
The overall prevalence of non-decent homes decreased from 17% in 2019 to 15% in 2023(Reported 30 January 2025)