New health and safety guide issued to landlords by government
Summary
The government has issued an updated landlord and agent guide to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) for England. The revision simplifies hazard categories, introduces baseline indicators and updated case studies, and restates enforcement and penalty provisions, including higher civil financial penalties for certain offences from 1 May 2026.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors may need to understand the revised HHSRS framework when assessing housing conditions, advising clients, or reporting hazards. The updated enforcement and penalty regime also increases the compliance risk for landlords and agents where defects or hazards are identified.
Key points
- HHSRS hazards have been reduced from 29 to 21.
- Baseline indicators have been introduced as a checklist of reasonable home standards.
- Likelihood of harm categories have been simplified into four bands.
- Civil financial penalties can reach £40,000 for certain offences from 1 May 2026.
- The updated guide applies only in England.
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