The government's English Housing Survey 2024-25 shows 4 million homes still fail the Decent Homes Standard and damp has risen. Here is what the figures mean for tenants, in plain English.
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In short
The government's English Housing Survey 2024-25 shows that millions of homes in England still fall below a basic standard, and that damp has gone up. If you are living with damp, mould, or a home your landlord will not bring up to standard, you are not alone, and you may have a claim. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.
The headline figures
According to the official 2024-25 headline report on housing quality:
- About 4 million homes (15%) in England failed the Decent Homes Standard.
- In the social rented sector, around 1 in 10 homes (just under 430,000) failed that standard.
- Damp affected 7% of social rented homes, 10% of private rented homes, and 4% of owner-occupied homes. Council-owned homes were more likely to have damp than housing association homes.
- The survey recorded a statistically significant rise in damp in both the social rented and owner-occupied sectors.
- Overcrowding has risen over the last decade, from 6% to 9% of social rented households.
What the Decent Homes Standard is
The Decent Homes Standard is the basic level every social home is supposed to meet: in reasonable repair, with modern facilities, reasonably warm, and free of the most serious hazards. A home that fails it is, by the government's own measure, not good enough.
What this means for you
If your home is damp, cold, or in poor repair and your landlord has been told but has not fixed it, these numbers show how common that experience is, and they back up what you already know: the home is not up to standard. That is exactly the kind of evidence that supports a disrepair claim.
- Read about damp and mould and your rights.
- If your home is too small as well, see overcrowding: your rights.
What to do
Report the problem to your landlord in writing and keep copies. Take dated photos. Then call Support for Tenants free on 0800 030 4669, send the short form, or message us on WhatsApp. We will tell you honestly whether you have a claim worth pursuing, with no pressure to go ahead.
Support For Tenants is a trading name of Cyntex Group Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a Claims Management Company. FRN 1020217. Registered in England and Wales.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 23 May 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.
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