New regulations to bring the updated HHSRS into force are intended to be introduced after the conclusion of the Decent Homes Standard review, which is considering the case for extending the Standard to cover the Private Rented Sector in England as well as social housing. There is not yet any indication of when this might be completed.
The importance of the HHSRS
The HHSRS is a risk-based evaluation tool used by local authorities to assess a range of potential hazards in rented properties, such as damp, excess cold and electrical faults as well as fire and falls. It also forms an important part of the Fitness for Human Habitation (FFHH) standards under the Homes Act 2018 because it defines the hazards that must be checked to decide if a property is suitable for occupation.
What this means for agents
Letting agents and landlords have a responsibility to ensure that properties meet the FFHH standard before a tenancy begins and for its duration. It’s recommended that the HHSRS hazards are integrated into inventory check-in reports to ensure compliance.
Members can find more detail in our Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 factsheet, which will be updated with new guidance when the changes come into force.
Key changes
- Amalgamation of some hazards assessed, reducing the total number from 29 to 21, and produce a simpler means of banding the results of HHSRS assessments.
- The ‘relevant matters affecting likelihood and harm outcome’ for fire and explosion will be updated with specific minimum standards which have been field tested and found to mitigate 90% of significant fire hazards.
- Baselines will be published that can be used to make an initial assessment of whether a property contains serious hazards (eg ‘stairs must be safe, secure, in sound condition, free of defects and projections, well maintained’). These do not replace the whole risk assessment but are easier to understand.
- New statutory operating and enforcement guidance, a comprehensive set of new case studies, and specific tailored guidance for all stakeholders will be provided.
