Landlords face £7K fine amid heatwave hazards
Summary
The article warns landlords that overheating in rented homes can now be treated as a housing health hazard, with local authorities able to enforce under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). It notes that while there is no legal maximum indoor temperature or requirement to install air conditioning, landlords must still maintain adequate ventilation and respond to tenant complaints about heat-related risks.
Why it matters
Surveyors may encounter overheating issues during inspections, particularly where ventilation, windows, extractor fans or shading defects contribute to a health hazard. The piece also highlights the enforcement and tenancy-management context, which is relevant when advising on property condition, risk and compliance.
Key points
- Overheating is recognised as a potential hazard under the HHSRS.
- Councils in England can impose penalties of up to £7,000 per hazard where landlords fail to act.
- There is no legal maximum indoor temperature for rented homes in Britain.
- Landlords are not required to provide air conditioning or fans, but must maintain adequate ventilation.
- Tenant complaints about overheating can be escalated to local authority environmental health teams for HHSRS inspection.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
