Guidance on HHSRS

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is the risk assessment procedure for residential properties carried out by the Local Authority, usually the Private Sector Housing Department. It replaced the Housing Fitness Regime on 6 April 2006 in England and in Wales later that year. HHSRS also replaced the Fitness Standard as an element of the Decent Homes Standard. HHSRS does not apply in Scotland.

 

The HHSRS is a measurement of the condition of a dwelling.  It assesses 29 categories of housing related hazards, such as excess cold and heat, and provides a numerical value of the level of danger, based on the risk to the potential occupant who is most vulnerable to that hazard.  This enables the Local Authority to prioritise intervention where the hazards are most extreme.

 

A score of over 1000 is classed as a Category 1 hazard and triggers a duty on the Local Authority to take appropriate enforcement action under the Housing Act 2004.  It also classifies the accommodation as non-decent as part of the Decent Homes Standard.

 

It is a very complicated system to explain to landlords, but the most effective way of communicating the process to a landlord is with regards to establishing how a “hazard” may impact upon human health.  The 29 hazards can be broadly grouped into the following six categories:

 

• Dampness, excess cold or heat
• Pollutants, e.g. asbestos, carbon monoxide, lead
• Environment e.g. space, security, lighting or excessive noise
• Hygiene issues, sanitation or water supply
• Accidents, e.g. falls, electric shocks, fires, burns, scalds
• Collisions, explosions or structural collapse

Carrying out an HHSRS inspection is all about:

• Spotting the defect
• Noting the resultant hazard (29 hazards)
• Considering the likelihood of the hazard affecting the occupier?
• Considering what the likely result/outcome may be on the occupier (4 classes of harm varying in degree of severity)
• Think about types of people affected by a particular hazard, as a property should be made safe for the most vulnerable person, as in theory the property should then be safe for all

Schemes can use HHSRS to give them a basis for creating a simple and straightforward system for inspecting properties.  This system does not need to be at the same level as that of Environmental Health Officers/Private Sector Housing Officers, but will allow the scheme to report any serious problems in the language understood by Environmental Health/Private Sector Housing.

 

Government guidance on HHSRS

"How to Inspect Properties" training