Landlords
If you’re a London landlord, you need to make sure that you are aware of your obligations under Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), or you could find yourself in a not-so-good situation.
What is Housing Health and Safety Rating System?
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System is an evaluation tool to verify if the property is safe to live in. HHSRS was introduced under the Housing Act 2004 and is applicable to residential properties in England and Wales. It assesses the 29 housing hazards and the effect that each hazard may have on the health and safety of the current tenant of the property as well as the future dwellers. The Housing Health and Safety Rating System is much broader than the fitness standard it replaced. The system covers issues such as heating and insulation, condensation, electric shocks, burns, fire, electrics, carbon monoxide, noise, asbestos, poor hygiene, lead, etc.
After the assessment is carried out, Housing Health and Safety Rating System score for the property is calculated. When the HHSRS score is calculated, the inspection officer will consider the chance of harm that the property will bring, how serious that harm it would bring, and any extra risk to children or elders.
What are the 29 Hazards under HHSRS System?
- Damp and mould growth
- Excess cold
- Excess heat
- Asbestos and manufacture mineral fibres
- Biocides
- Carbon monoxide and fuel combustion products
- Lead
- Radiation
- Uncombusted fuel gas
- Volatile organic compounds
- Crowding and space
- Entry by intruders
- Lighting
- Noise
- Domestic hygiene, pests, and refuse
- Food safety
- Sanitation and drainage problems
- Water supply
- Falls associated with baths
- Falls on a level surface
- Falls associated with stairs and ramps
- Falls between levels
- Electric hazards
- Fire
- Flames, hot surfaces, and materials
- Collision and entrapment
- Explosions
- Ergonomics
- Structural collapse and falling elements
What happens if you fail an HHSRS assessment?
After your property is assessed, each hazard will have a rating from A through to J. Hazard bands ‘A’ to ‘C’ are deemed under Category One which means there is a serious hazard present while the lower bands are deemed Category Two which means less serious hazards present.
Legal actions should be taken by the council when there are serious hazards found. All hazards are required to be address and details of work must be done to fix them. There is also a strict time frame for the necessary works to be complete
If a landlord fails to comply, this can result in either a civil or criminal prosecution. For instance, a landlord can be fined for letting a room without windows or access to artificial light which breached hazards 11 and 13. A landlord can also be fined for endangering the lives of tenants due to faulty wiring.
Moreover, there is an impact in serving Section 21 if the landlord failed to comply with the HHSRS.
Is HHSRS a legal requirement in London at the beginning of the tenancy?
Currently, the HHSRS report is not a legal requirement in London at the beginning of the tenancy. If a tenant identifies an issue which he/she believes to make the property unfit for human habitation, the tenant is required to notify the landlord in writing.
The landlord or property manager will have 14 days to give a sufficient response in writing to explain how they propose to resolve the problem.
Even if there is no legal requirement for an HHSRS report at the beginning of the tenancy, all landlords have a duty of care to their tenants. This includes making sure the property is a safe and comfortable place to live.
BLUESTONE PROPERTIES
Bluestone Properties is a property management and letting agency in south London. We provide services in south London and surrounding areas. If you're a landlord feel free to get it touch with us by call us on 0208 355 3405 and see how we can help you maximise your property's potential.
