STANDARDS of private rented accommodation in this region are the poorest in the country.

A new report shows that across Yorkshire and the Humber, 37.6 per cent of private rented homes are classed as 'non-decent' against the Government's quality benchmark. The national average is 22.8 per cent.

And the Northern Housing Consortium, which has produced the document, says standards in the region are getting worse.

It is calling on the incoming Prime Minister to deliver on the so-called renters reform agenda – a white paper published in February which set out a target to halve the number of non-decent rented homes by 2030.

Tracy Harrison – chief executive of the consortium, which represents 140 councils and housing associations across the north – says: "Yorkshire and the Humber has the lowest standards of private rented accommodation of any region.

"It is imperative that the new Prime Minister accelerates the renters reform agenda and doesn’t let the standard of private rented housing in this region continue to slide.

"The need to level-up housing quality is vital in Yorkshire and the Humber, where homes are older and suffer from a lack of investment. The sector is crying out for support and proper regulation.

"Whilst most people have a positive experience living in the private rented sector the fact is that many residents are often vulnerable, with specific health and social care needs. The quality of the housing in the lower end of the sector is simply not up to standard and can exacerbate physical and mental health conditions.

"The Government must deliver on the promises that have been made to northern renters, and momentum has to be maintained."

The Government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities says the white paper will "ensure millions of families benefit from living in decent, well looked after homes".

A spokesperson added: "The white paper marks a generational shift that will redress the balance between landlords and 4.4 million private tenants. It provides new support for cost of living pressures with protections for the most vulnerable, and new measures to tackle arbitrary and unfair rent increases.

"The majority of tenants enjoy safe and secure rentals, but for those who currently live in unfit homes this will mean properties must be free from serious health and safety hazards – and landlords must keep homes in a good state of repair so renters have clean, appropriate and useable facilities."