HHSRS review is complete, now for DLUHC to consider findings.
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) was introduced under the Housing Act 2004 Part 1 and no real changes or reviews have taken place since it’s formation. You can read more about the HHSRS here including the type of hazards and the current process used mostly by Local Authority Enforcement Officers.
Back in 2018/19 the then Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) announced that a review would take place and the government commissioned RHE Global to undertake this tough but much-needed review. As part of this extensive review, other interested parties had also been able to have their say including HHSRS Assessors, Environmental Health Officers, Private Sector Housing Enforcement Officers, Other Housing Professionals, Letting Agents, Landlords, and Tenants.
RHE reported on 15 February 2023 that the review has now been concluded “and provided the Government with the findings, recommendations, associated reports and proposed HHSRS guidance documents”. Proposals have been submitted to inform of the following requirements:
Reviewed and updated HHSRS Operating Guidance
An updated comprehensive set of Worked Examples.
Review of HHSRS training requirements and competency frameworks.
Simpler means of banding the results of HHSRS assessments.
New minimum standards for incorporation into the HHSRS assessment process.
Assessment of the amalgamation or removal of existing hazard profiles.
Identification of what an HHSRS digital assessment tool would achieve.
Reviewed and updated guidance for landlords and property-related professionals, and the introduction of separate guidance for tenants.
Reviewed and updated HHSRS Enforcement Guidance.
Review of the “Fire Hazard”.
RHE finally concluded the announcement with the following: “Thank you again for all your support during the research project which we are confident will deliver on a robust and future-proofed housing health and safety rating system for the benefit of all stakeholders and practitioners”.
This has been an immense but much-needed project and our hope is that the Government will now not only consider the review in its entirety but make positive changes, and one that promotes simplicity (as much as possible) to all interested parties who may come into contact with the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
The full statement by RHE Global can be found here.
