Have your say and don’t delay!
The HHSRS have released an online survey for Landlords to offer them insight into how the system really affects them.
What is the HHSRS?
For those that have never had the joys of coming across the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, here is a quick introduction:
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (in short, the HHSRS), has been in place for some 15 years! It is still used by Council Enforcement Officers to assess property conditions based on 29 hazards.
Some of the hazards include Fire, Falls on Stairs, Structural defects and even explosions.
The enforcement officer will inspect your tenant’s property and identify any deficiencies, then group them into one of these 29 hazards. Using a numerical formula, the Housing Enforcement Officer is then able to determine if a Category 1 or 2 Hazard exists within the property and may choose to take appropriate action under the Housing Act 2004.
The above makes it all seem remarkably simple! But…
The HHSRS has never been updated… until now
Since its implementation in 2006, there hasn’t been any amendments to the HHSRS. However, an exciting two-year research project, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is being carried out and an online survey has been released and this is your opportunity as a Landlord to get involved in the shaping of the HHSRS.
The government makes it clear that “this survey is aimed at a wide variety of organisations from those at one extreme that own/manage tens of thousands of dwellings through to a person that lets just one dwelling. Do not be put off from completing the survey. The aim is to assist in informing significant improvements to the HHSRS.”
The review and associated research focus on recommendations in relation to the following:
Review of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) Operating Guidance.
Development of an updated set of worked examples.
Reviewed HHSRS training for assessors and other stakeholders, including the introduction of a competency framework.
Development of a simpler means of banding HHSRS assessment results.
New recommended minimum standards.
Assessment into the amalgamation or removal of existing hazard profile.
Review of HHSRS digital assessment tools.
Reviewed and updated HHSRS ‘Landlords Guidance’ and new ‘Tenants Guidance’.
Reviewed and updated HHSRS Enforcement Guidance.
Review of the fire safety hazard.
