A new and updated guide to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) has been issued to agents and landlords.
The updated guide covers revisions to the system, including;
a) The number of hazards has been reduced from 29 to 21, with several hazards amalgamated to simplify the assessment process. For example, falls on level surfaces and falls associated with baths and showers have been combined into a new hazard titled ‘falls on the level’;
b) Suggested baseline indicators have been introduced. They act as a checklist of reasonable standards that can be expected within a home to help identify deficiencies that should be assessed;
c) The assessment process has been simplified by grouping the sixteen numerical likelihood of harm categories into 4 bands, ranging from very likely to very unlikely;
d) Category 1 hazards (those scoring 1,000 or more as before) are now all in the High Band. Category 2 hazards are now sub-divided into two bands: Medium (those scoring over 100 but under 1,000) and Low (those scoring below 100) respectively;
e) A refreshed set of case studies (previously called worked examples) has been produced to help illustrate, and benchmark, how HHSRS assessments should be undertaken.
The guidelines also cover assessment and enforcement, plus penalties in the event of non-compliance.
The local council will undertake an investigation to determine beyond reasonable doubt that an offence has occurred.
The investigation process could involve inspecting the property, taking witness statements from tenants and inviting the landlord and/or property agent to an interview.
If a summons is issued and the case proceeds to a magistrates’ court, the court can impose an unlimited fine plus court costs and a victim surcharge if someone is found guilty.
Alternatively, the local council can now impose a civil financial penalty of up to £40,000 for failure to comply with an improvement notice for offences committed on or after 1 May 2026. The maximum civil penalty for offences committed before 1 May 2026 is £30,000.
Before issuing a financial penalty, the local council will issue a notice of intent to impose the penalty and allow 28 days, beginning with the day after that on which the notice was given, for the person to make any written representation before finalising their decision.
All of these updates only apply to England and agents can see the revised guide here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/housing-health-and-safety-rating-system-hhsrs-landlord-and-agent-guide?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=628e221b-ff82-4ddb-ba95-fdf57698d7ad&utm_content=immediately
