Landlords' responsibilities
The landlord has a responsibility to look after the exterior and structural elements of the dwelling and the inside facilities which are part of the dwelling. Landlords are required to keep their property free of serious hazards.
What are inside facilities?
Inside facilities covers anything within the property that cannot be removed. There are some exemptions to this where removable equipment which is supplied by the landlord is also included.
Further guidance on the landlords responsibilities under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) can be found in the government published guidance on GOV.UK. There are also further guidance documents available on our Landlord and agent resources page.
How to ensure you are compliant with your responsibilities under the HHSRS
We expect landlords / agents to carry out regular property inspections. These inspections should identify any disrepair within the property which may contribute to hazards within the property. We have produced an inspection form to help you complete inspections which is available from our Landlord and agent resources page.
A recording of the Landlord Forum HHSRS presentation is available on YouTube. There are courses available which provide a more in depth detail of the HHSRS. These are courses available from accreditation schemes. See more information on landlord and agent accreditation schemes.
Action as a result of a HHSRS Inspection
We have a duty, where we consider a serious (category 1) hazard exists, to take enforcement action to reduce the hazard. Where less serious (category 2) hazards exist we have the power to take action.
The types of action that we could take include:
- Informal Action - informally asking for works to be completed
- Hazard Awareness Notice - making the landlord aware of the hazards present in the property but not formally requiring remedial work to be carried out
- Improvement Notice – formally requiring the landlord to carry out remedial work to reduce the hazards within the property to an acceptable level
- Prohibition Order and Emergency Prohibition Order – forbidding the use of all or part of a dwelling or placing restrictions on who can live in the dwelling
- Demolition Order
- Clearance Areas
- Emergency Remedial Works - we can act if a serious hazard exists and there is an immediate risk of serious harm
What happens if you don’t comply with notices
Failure to comply with notices served under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 is a criminal offence. We can issue a financial penalty of up to £30,000 or, on summary conviction at court you could receive an unlimited fine.
