Overheating moves up the PRS agenda
Summary
The article reports that 441,000 private rented homes in England failed the thermal comfort criterion of the Decent Homes Standard in 2024, with thermal comfort accounting for 40.3% of non-decent homes in the sector. It also highlights the revised Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), which came into force on 23 June and places greater emphasis on temperature-related hazards, including overheating.
Why it matters
Surveyors involved in residential inspections, condition reporting and risk assessment need to understand the revised HHSRS framework and the growing significance of overheating as a housing hazard. The figures underline the scale of thermal comfort issues in the private rented sector and the likelihood of increased scrutiny from landlords, agents and local authorities.
Key points
- 441,000 private rented homes in England failed thermal comfort standards in 2024.
- Thermal comfort issues made up 40.3% of all non-decent private rented homes.
- The revised HHSRS came into force on 23 June and reduces hazard categories from 29 to 21.
- Excess Heat is now a standalone hazard, reflecting increased attention on overheating risks.
- Local authorities retain powers to intervene where overheating poses a significant health risk.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
