LATEST NEWS

TDS has joined over 40 housing sector leaders in signing a letter that calls on the UK Government to unfreeze housing benefit for private renters.

Living in a warm and energy efficient home is so important to our health and wellbeing. It lowers the risk of illness, reduces the stress of high energy bills and plays a role in tackling the climate crisis.  

Over a million households in England’s Private Rented Sector live in homes that don’t meet basic health and safety standards[1]. Most landlords and letting agents already provide safe, good-quality homes for their tenants, but poorly maintained properties risk damaging the reputation of the whole sector.

For many people, a pet isn’t just part of their ideal home, it’s a part of the family. Yet with Zoopla reporting that as little as 7% of its private rented listings are pet-friendly, it’s a dream that is out of reach for many renters.

The majority of tenants in rental properties (55%) now have smart meters, new research shows. Findings from our 2025 Voice of the Landlord and Voice of the Tenant surveys shows they are the third-commonest energy efficiency measure installed in rental properties (after insulation and more efficient gas boilers). Just under half of all landlords have installed them. Another 41% say they will prioritise this energy efficiency measure in future.

The UK private rented sector is currently waiting for the Government’s response to a consultation on raising the minimum energy efficiency standards. The proposals involve raising the minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating for rental properties from E to C by 2030.  

The Government has announced the next steps for the implementation of Awaab’s Law in the social rented sector, which comes into effect in October this year.   So why is this important for private landlords? It’s likely that these proposals will be the model to follow for the private rented sector as Awaab’s Law will be introduced as part of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which will become law later this year.

At TDS, one of our core strategic aims is to improve standards in the private rented sector. But as new research from the TDS Charitable Foundation shows, stronger enforcement alone isn’t enough. To uphold standards, tenants need to understand their rights – and know where to go when things go wrong.

The TDS Charitable Foundation has partnered with the homelessness charity DENS and Dacorum Borough Council to develop a project which will improve access to the private rented sector for people experiencing homelessness.

At TDS, we work with letting agents across the country who take pride in doing the right thing—ensuring landlords meet their responsibilities, helping tenants navigate their tenancies, and resolving disputes fairly and professionally.