HHSRS now in force
Houses in Multiple Occupation
The new Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) comes into force this month - on 6 April.
The new system will replace the current fitness standards, previously controlled by the Housing Act 1985, and replace them with a new way to assess the condition of homes in England and Wales. HHSRS will enable local authorities to check for the obvious poor standards - for example, in hygiene, sanitation and fire safety.
The key principle of the system is that a dwelling should provide a safe and healthy environment for the occupants and their visitors. An inspection process provides for a risk-based assessment and considers the effect of any hazards in the property. Within HHSRS, a total of 29 different hazards have been identified. Types of hazard range from danger of explosion or structural collapse, to the potential hazard of a glass panel or stairs.
HHSRS replaces the fitness standard which dated back to 1919 which defined a minimum set of property standards which landlords were required to meet. HHSRS on the other hand was designed to also address risks and the effect of the particular defect or omission, on the occupant. Helpfully, a 15 page guidance booklet has been produced by the Sector Skills council to assist agents, and is downloadable from their website, or available for purchase in printed form.
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