The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
(Click here for a copy of the guidance)
replaces the fitness standard for housing introduced in 1985
Housing Act. It is a new risk based system for deciding whether
a house is healthy and safe. It now specifies 29 different
hazards to be assessed and the likelihood of injury or ill
health from each is calculated. Local authority enforcement
powers will cover matters that previously could not be dealt
with such as the risk of falls and tripping.
If you own your house, it
is your responsibility but if you rent a property, it is the
landlord’s responsibility to ensure certain standards are met. If
the property fails to meet these standards the Council can give
advice or take legal action to ensure the property is brought up to
an acceptable standard.
The service enforces the key provisions of the Housing
Act 2004, and associated law, to maintain decent housing standards
for our residents
The Housing Act 2004 provides a broad range of duties and powers
for local councils including:
- The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) (Part 1 –
Housing Conditions)
- Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Part 2)
- Selective Licensing of other Residential Accommodation (Part
3)
- Management Orders (Part 4 – Additional Control Provisions in
Relation to Residential Accommodation)
- Mobile Homes (Part 6 – Other Provisions about Housing)
- Powers of Entry (Part 7 - Supplementary and Final
Provisions)
Hazards
Under the Housing Act
2004, there are 29 separate hazards that will be assessed, (the
Housing Health and Safety Rating System). Examples of these hazards
are dampness and mould growth, falls associated with stairs, excess
cold, crowding and fire.
All dwellings contain
hazards and the purpose of our work is to advise owners of the
existence of any hazards, their severity and what is required to
mitigate, or remove, those hazards.
If you rent your home, and
it needs repairs, your landlord will normally be responsible for
ensuring these are done. You should inform your landlord of the
problem at an early stage, and allow them a reasonable period to
put it right. Your landlord has the right to enter your home to
carry out repairs as long as reasonable notice has been given, and
sometimes without notice if there is an emergency.
If you have problems
having the repairs done, the Council will carry out an inspection.
If the house is found to fall below an acceptable standard, the
Council can take action to require your landlord to carry out
works.
If you have told your
landlord about repairs that need doing, and they have not made
arrangements for them to be done within a reasonable time, contact
the Environmental Health Team on 01638 719733 or e-mail
es@forest-heath.gov.uk
Housing Act Flyer.
Information for landlords.
Crowding
There is no longer a
specific, numeric, standard for the number of people who may live,
or sleep, in a dwelling or individual room. Crowding is now one of
the hazards that can be assessed under the rating system and we
will take into account any other hazards that exist in the dwelling
and whether, or not, those hazards are made worse by the number of
people living in the dwelling. For example, if you only have one
bathroom, or a small kitchen, hazards may arise if too many people
have to share those facilities
If you would like
more information, or think you are living in overcrowded
conditions, contact the Environmental Health Team on 01638 719733
or e-mail
es@forest-heath.gov.uk
Gas Supply
If your rented property
has a gas supply, your landlord is required by law to ensure that a
safety check is carried out on each gas appliance/flue every year.
Within 28 days of the check being carried out your landlord must
give you a copy of the safety inspection. Any new tenant must also
receive a copy of the current certificate. Your landlord must keep
records of every safety check for two years.
Landlords are not obliged
to check any appliance that is owned by you, or any flues/chimneys
that are only connected to an appliance owned by you.
If you are concerned that
your landlord is not complying with the law, ring the Health and
Safety Executive’s Gas Safety Line on 0800 300363 or visit their
website by clicking
here
Furniture
All upholstered furniture
that is supplied in rented property to a new tenant must comply
with fire safety standards. For further information contact
Trading Standards
Further Guidance on Housing Standards
Contact Us
Contact the Environmental Health Team on 01638 719733 or e-mail
es@forest-heath.gov.uk