Nearly a fifth of homes in England failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard, with private rented homes the biggest culprit, according to new data.

The Decent Homes Standard was a commitment established in 2000 by the Blair government which required public sector housing to meet minimum quality thresholds.

Figures published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government show that of the near-24 million homes across England an estimated 4.5 million homes did not meet the standard, whose remit has been broadened since its introduction nearly 20 years ago to cover all residential properties.