The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is the government's system for assessing the health and safety risks in dwellings, and is designed as a replacement for the old fitness standard used by the Residential Environmental Health Section to inspect properties in Spelthorne.
The Principle
The principle of HHSRS is that any residential premises (including the structure, means of access, and any associated outbuilding, garden or yard) should provide a safe and healthy environment for any potential occupier or visitor. HHSRS is a risk assessment process and is comprehensive in its coverage of key health and safety risks in dwellings. In very broad terms, the Rating System works by assessing the risk associated with certain home hazards and if the likelihood of harm is significant the Council may take action to ensure that the risk is removed or reduced.
The Hazards
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) considers the following hazards:
excess cold; damp and mould growth
fire and electrical hazards
carbon monoxide and fuel combustion products
crowding and space
entry by intruders
noise
domestic hygiene, pests and refuse
food safety
personal hygiene, sanitation and drainage
water supply for domestic purposes
structural collapse and falling elements
collision and entrapment
falls associated with baths; stairs and steps; between levels and on the level. .
What action can be taken?
Any action the Council may take will be based on a three-stage consideration:
the hazard rating determined under an HHSRS assessment;
whether the Council has a duty or power to act; and
the Council's judgement as to the most appropriate course of action to deal with the hazard.
There is a choice of action available to the Council, including the following:
serve an improvement notice requiring essential repairs or improvements;
make a prohibition order, which closes the whole or part of a dwelling or restricts the number of occupiers;
take emergency action where there is an imminent risk to the occupiers;
serve a hazard awareness notice informing interested parties on the presence of hazards.
For further information about hazards and HHSRS see the Department for Communities and Local Government website at www.communities.gov.uk (external website).
