The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is a
risk based tool to help identify and protect against potential
risks and hazards to health and safety. Risks and hazards are
identified from deficiencies within dwellings.
The HHSRS was introduced under the Housing Act 2004 and applies
to all residential properties in England. Please refer to the
Communities and Local Government (CLG) website for further
information.
Which hazards are identified?
The HHSRS
identifies 29 categories of housing hazards, each hazard has a
weighting to determine whether the property has a Category 1
(serious) or Category 2 (other) hazard.
How does HHSRS work?
The HHSRS works
on two main areas, liklihood and
outcome.
The liklihood of whether an occupant could
become injured from the identified hazard. The judgment of this
does not take into consideration the current occupant but the most
vulnerable group at risk. This is usually the young or elderly but
will depend on the hazard which has been identified.
The next step of HHSRS is the outcome of an
occupant having an accident. This depends on the hazard identified.
For example, a first floor window of poor construction with
inadequate locks and low sill height is a potential hazard. If the
occupant were to fall from the window onto a concrete surface below
the outcome of that fall would be significantly different to that
if they fell onto grass or shrubbery.
Worked examples of the HHSRS can be viewed on the
Lacors website.
A calculation taking into account the liklihood and outcome is
undertaken. The hazard will then be scored and given a banding
between 'A - J', 'A' being the higher risk and 'J' being
the lower risk.
Band 'A - C' is classed as Category 1 hazard and in North
Somerset band 'D' is also acted upon as Category 1. Bands 'E' and
below are Category 2 hazards. The category of hazard determines
what
Enforcement
action is to be taken.
Further information on the Housing Health and Safety Rating
System, and other responsibilities and liabilities for the landlord
and agent, can be found on the
West
of England Housing website.
Please contact the
Private
Rented Housing Team for further assistance.
