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Decent Homes Standard for the private rented sector: how tenants can use the new £40,000 fine and £7,000 instant Category 1 hazard penalty as leverage from 1 May 2026

The Decent Homes Standard arrives in the private rented sector under the Renters' Rights Act. The substantive standard is phased to 2035, but the penalty regime kicks in 1 May 2026: councils can issue an instant £7,000 penalty for unaddressed Category 1 hazards and up to £40,000 for ignored improvement notices. This is the tenant playbook for using those penalties as leverage when a landlord drags their feet on a serious repair.