HHSRS Assessments

 If a tenant reports your property to the local authority, then the local authority is duly bound by law to inspect your property for all 29 Hazards in the HHSRS (Housing Health & Safety Rating System).

If the Council finds any Category 1 risks, they are duty bound, by law, to start enforcement action against the Landlord and any Agents.

 If you do not fully comply with any Enforcement Notice, Probation Order or Penalty Order, etc. within the allotted time (or successfully challenge it) then the local authority will either issue a Civil Penalty fine per breach or commence criminal proceedings against you in Court.

 It’s much simpler and safer to be ale to prove that your HMO or rental property is fully compliant with HHSRS.

 The local authority can inspect at random whenever they want.

If one of your tenants report your property on any basis the local authority will do a full HHSRS inspection without your knowledge. The first you’ll know is when you receive the Enforcement Notice or Council Penalty fine.

If your property should have been licensed but isn’t, you need to apply for a licence ASAP BUT

You’d better make sure even faster that it’s compliant with HHSRS or you’re looking at two fines One for unlicenced property and another for running a sub-standard property

 Get a 3rd party professional HHSRS inspection and risk assessment audit done by a certified HHSRS practitioner who has had the same training as Council HHSRS inspectors.

A Landlord Licensing & Defence certified HHSRS practitioner will report on every item within your property that the Council could claim to be ‘non-compliant’ or a Category 1 / 2 hazard.

What’s more, we’ll tell you what you need to do to rectify the issue ASAP to avoid being exposed to potential fines and prosecution.

Link below to Government HHSRS Guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/housing-health-and-safety-rating-system-hhsrs-guidance

 The cost of an HHSRS audit is a small percentage of the fines you may face. 

The actual cost depends on the building size, type, location and general overall condition usually between £350,00 - £650.00