Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
The method councils in England use to assess hazards in homes, such as damp, cold, falls and fire, and decide whether to take action against the landlord.
In short: The HHSRS, set up by Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004, is how a council inspector assesses 29 kinds of hazard in a home, from damp and excess cold to falls and fire. Each hazard is scored; a high score is a category 1 hazard, which the council must act on.
Repairs and standardsSafety certificates and the home
英格兰。 于 5 October 2026 对照法律进行核查. 信息，非法律建议。
How it works:
- A council officer inspects, often after a tenant's complaint.
- Each hazard is judged by how likely it is to cause harm over the next year and how serious that harm would be, giving a score.
- Category 1 hazards (the most serious) oblige the council to act; category 2 hazards allow it to.
- Action can be an improvement notice, a prohibition order, emergency remedial action or a hazard awareness notice.
The Government has said the system will be updated and a new Decent Homes Standard applied to private lets in future.
Read more: Repairs, damp and mould: what the landlord must fix, and how fast
Related: Category 1 hazard, Improvement notice, Decent Homes Standard
来源
Guides on this
Guide
What is the minimum EPC rating to let a home in England?
A home you let in England needs an EPC rated E or better, unless an exemption is on the PRS Exemptions Register. The planned rise to C from 1 October 2030 is government policy but still needs new law.
Guide
The certificates every let needs (gas, electrical, EPC, alarms)
A private let in England needs a gas safety record every year, an electrical report every five years, an EPC rated E or better, and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. What each one is, how often, and what happens if you let without it.
Guide
How often does a landlord need an EICR?
Every private let in England needs the electrics inspected and tested at least every five years. Copies to the tenant within 28 days, urgent repairs within 28 days, and a council fine of up to £40,000.
Guide
Gas safety certificates for landlords: the yearly check
If a let home has gas appliances, a Gas Safe registered engineer must check them every 12 months. Give the tenant the record within 28 days, keep it for two years, and know what to do when you cannot get in.
Related terms
Glossary
EICR codes: C1, C2, C3 and FI
The codes an electrician uses on an EICR: C1 danger present, C2 potentially dangerous, FI further investigation needed, C3 improvement recommended.
Glossary
Category 1 hazard
The most serious level of hazard under the HHSRS. When a council finds one in a home, it must take enforcement action.
Glossary
Awaab's Law
Rules setting fixed times for landlords to investigate and fix damp, mould and other serious hazards. In force for social housing; due to be extended to private lets.
Glossary
Decent Homes Standard
A standard a home must meet: free of serious hazards, in reasonable repair, with reasonably modern facilities and warm. Applies to social housing; planned for private lets.
Glossary
Electrical installation condition report (EICR)
A report by a qualified electrician on the safety of a home's fixed wiring. Every private let in England needs one at least every five years.
Glossary
Energy performance certificate (EPC)
A certificate rating a home's energy efficiency from A (best) to G, valid for ten years. Needed before a home is let or sold, and shown in adverts.