Maryanne Bowring 08/03/2021
549
0
Health & safety rental level is being upgraded – can you help?
The health and safety rating system (HHSRS) that is used for rented housing is being revisited by the Government – and if you're a landlord you can have your say on how it should change.
This will be the first time that the risk assessment system used by local authorities has been updated for 15 years. At the moment, the HHSRS looks at ventilation issues such as damp and extreme cold, as well as structural defects but a two-year project is now underway to decide whether or not the criteria used to judge the health of rented homes needs to change.
Among other aspects of health and safety, the review is looking at:
- new recommended minimum standards
- training for assessors and other stakeholders, including the introduction of a competency framework
- development of a simpler means of banding HHSRS assessment results
- the possible amalgamation or removal of existing hazard profiles
- HHSRS digital assessment tools
- HHSRS Landlords Guidance and new Tenants Guidance
- HHSRS enforcement guidance
- fire safety hazards.
The Government wants to hear from anyone who lets out rented property and an online survey for landlords can be found here. It doesn’t matter whether you own a large rental portfolio or just one house or flat, your views are still welcome. So don’t be put off from completing the survey. You can make your voice heard until the end of March and help make important improvements to the wellbeing of tenants and health and safety in the rental market.
Meet our Expert Property Commentators
Mary-Anne Bowring FTPI FRICS FARLA FCABE Founder/Head of Asset Management
Strategic partnerships, holistic delivery/ opportunities, growth, value engineering, thought leadership
Ian Barber MD BTR Mobilisation & Leasing
Runs HQ & site lease-up teams. Drives rent pricing, mobilisation, marketing, happy residents!
Jon Curtis MRICS Head of Building Engineering
Chartered Building Surveyor. Lectures on EWS1 & building safety. Runs CapEx programmes.
Kate Robinson MTPI MD Blocks/FM Management (London Region)
Master plan setup, ops and staffing and resident engagement. ISO45001 champion.
Lee Harle Partner Ringley Law
Plot conveyancing. Debt litigation. Group Company Secretary.
Anthony Kingdon MIRPM AssocRICS MD Blocks/FM Management (North Region)
Stakeholder engagement. Mixed tenure specialist. Budget management. Plant audit, PPM compliance.
Chris Georgalis MRICS Head of Commercial Valuation
Chartered Valuer. Rental valuations: retail, leisure. IRR modelling and valuations for secured lending. Compulsory purchase & rent reviews
Nichola Pughe MRICS Head of Residential Valuation
Chartered Valuer. Rental development & mixed use valuations, IRR modelling. Leasehold enfranchisement specialist
Natalie Birmingham Helpdesk Support Manager
Trainer & Helpdesk Manager: people, systems,contractors. ISO45001 supply chain accreditation.
Steve Norman Planning Director
Land due diligence (opportunities & constraints) Has contributed to a number of award winning schemes.
