|
|
The HHSRS – or Housing Health and Safety Rating System – is a comprehensive risk assessment tool used by the UK housing sector to measure and evaluate health and safety hazards in residential properties. Knowing what is involved in an HHSRS Assessment will help both landlords and tenants ensure their property meets all the necessary safety standards.
WHAT IS THE HHSRS ASSESSMENT?
The purpose of an HHSRS Assessment is to estimate the health and safety risks associated with a living space, such as poor ventilation, lighting, or other risks that could potentially cause harm to tenants. The assessment focuses on 29 hazards ranging from excess cold or heat, damp or mould issues, pests/vermin infestations and radiation levels. Landlords are obliged by law to carry out annual HHSRS assessments in their rental properties to ensure the environment is safe for their tenants.
HOW IS THE HHSRS ASSESSED?
The HHSRS Assessment is conducted by an experienced housing professional, and starts with a visual inspection coupled with questions about the property’s condition. A variety of factors are taken into account such as the size, layout and the tenant’s needs. Afterward, each risk is rated on a scale from 1 to 20 based on potential serious harm to health with 1 being minimal risk and 20 being extreme risks. Following the assessment, improvement works are recommended to ensure that the property meets acceptable standards of safety.
POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND RISKS ASSESSED DURING A HHSRS ASSESSMENT
A HHSRS Assessment evaluates both recognized and unusual potential hazards in a dwelling which may include: cold or damp, falling, fire and electrical safety, overcrowding, biological contamination, animals infestations and radiation. During an assessment, housing professionals examine the condition of various elements of the property that could represent a risk to the occupants including plumbing systems, power outlets and the structure of windows or doors. The HHSRS inspection will take into account current legislation regarding housing conditions as part of their assessment.
BENEFITS OF UNDERTAKING A HHSRS ASSESSMENT
Aside from providing a detailed report on the safety of a dwelling, assessing potential hazards enables action to be taken in order to reduce the risk of injury or damage. Furthermore, inspections help identify areas in need of improvement with advice on how best to rectify this according to official standards for housing. Finally, undertaking an assessment is seen as a standard practice for landlords and can help protect them from disputes over tenant conditions.
UNDERSTANDING THE FINAL SCORE OF A HHSRS ASSESSMENT
After completing an HHSRS assessment, a total score is calculated that summarises the risk of certain hazards. The scores are based on the number and seriousness of each category’s individual hazard and range from 0 to 100. Scores of 30 or above that represent an unacceptable level with the potential for action to be taken, while scores below are considered acceptable and do not require further action. Inspectors use these scores as part of their decision-making process when deciding if a serious hazard is present, which could lead to legal action being taken by either landlords or tenants.
If you need a HHSRS assessment to be undertaken, or have any questions about the assessments, please get in touch here.
LATEST POSTS
[latest-selected-content limit=”3″ display=”title,content-small” titletag=”h3″ chrlimit=”280″ url=”yes” linktext=”Read More” image=”full” elements=”3″ type=”post” status=”publish” orderby=”dateD”]
