Guidance for Landlords in the North East- Health and Safety

Guidance for Landlords- Housing Health and Safety Rating System     Since the Housing Health and Safety Rating System: Guide for Landlords and Property...

Guidance for Landlords- Housing Health and Safety Rating System

Since the Housing Health and Safety Rating System: Guide for Landlords and Property Related Professionals was produced by the government in 2006 (HHSRS), a tenant can now ask the council to inspect their property for any hazards and depending on the how the hazard is classified, you have a legal obligation to put right these hazards.

HHSRS enforcement

Local authorities have statutory duties and powers to take enforcement action to deal with properties containing hazards identified under the HHSRS. Under the HHSRS, local authorities have a duty to take appropriate enforcement action in relation to category 1 hazards, and discretion to act in relation to category 2 hazards.

If a hazard prevents a severe threat to health or safety it is known as a category 1 hazard. If a local authority considers that a category 1 hazard exists on any residential premises, they must take the appropriate enforcement action in relation to the hazard.

Less severe threats to health and safety are known as category 2 hazards and a local authority may take appropriate enforcement action to reduce the hazard to an acceptable level. The circumstances in which local authorities will take action over category 2 hazards will vary and will depend on the individual local authority`s enforcement policy.

When local authority officers inspect a dwelling they will look for any risk of harm to an actual or potential occupier of a dwelling, which results from any deficiency that can give rise to a hazard. They will judge the severity of the risk by thinking about the likelihood of an occurrence that could cause harm over the next 12 months, and the range of harms that could result.

Responsible landlords will need and want to be able to identify those factors that may increase the likelihood of an occurrence and affect the spread of harm.

On every new property that NGU Homelettings markets or takes on with a sitting tenant, we perform a 505 point property condition check list which is in line with the HHSRS guidelines. If you want to make sure that you are covered as a landlord and your property is safe, please give us a call so we can carry out a 505 property condition report on your property.

We do this for free as part of our tenant find and fully managed service.

Yours

Chris Fitzakerley

Managing Director