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<p>My officials have noted the contents of the Report. The Report recognises that
the Decent Homes Standard has made a real difference to the lives of tenants by driving
improvements to standards in social housing. Since 2010, the proportion of social
homes failing to meet the Decent Homes Standard is down 7 percentage points and the
proportion of private rented homes is down 10 percentage points.</p><p>Most landlords
provide decent, high quality accommodation, but a minority of them are not keeping
their properties in a safe condition. We have strengthened local authorities’ enforcement
powers, introduced civil penalties, extended rent repayment orders, introduced banning
orders and extended licensing of higher-risk houses in multiple occupation. These
measures will go a long way to crack down on landlords who neglect their properties,
and rogue landlords will have to improve their properties or leave the business.</p><p>The
Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is being reviewed to assess how well
it works in practice and whether it needs to be updated. The Government is also supporting
the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill which will require landlords to ensure
that their properties are free from potentially serious hazards at the start of and
throughout a tenancy.</p><p> </p>
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