New health and safety guide issued to agents by government
Summary
The government has issued an updated guide to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) for landlords and agents in England. The revisions simplify hazard categories, introduce baseline indicators, and update assessment and enforcement guidance, including civil penalties for non-compliance from 1 May 2026.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors involved in inspections, defect identification or compliance reporting should be aware of the revised HHSRS framework, as it affects how hazards are assessed and evidenced. The updated enforcement and penalty regime also increases the importance of accurate condition reporting and risk prioritisation.
Key points
- HHSRS hazards have been reduced from 29 to 21 to simplify assessment.
- Baseline indicators have been introduced as a checklist of reasonable home standards.
- Likelihood of harm categories have been grouped into four bands.
- Local councils can impose civil financial penalties of up to £40,000 for certain offences from 1 May 2026.
- The updated guide applies only in England.
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