Housing Health & Safety Rating System

The Housing Fitness Standard used to focus on the structure of buildings and their facilities. This has now been replaced with the Housing Act 2004 which has introduced the new Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

The new HHSRS is aimed at people living in the building. It assesses all the hazards which may be there to affect the health, safety and well-being of the occupants and their visitors. 

Poor quality housing can have a bad effect on the people who live there. This could be physically, socially or emotionally; from excess cold; through increased infection; asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Homes can also be dangerous, with injuries arising from falls, electrocutions, fire and other accidents.

The well-being impact ranges from depression to social exclusion. The HHSRS identifies any health, safety and well-being effects of buildings used for multiple occupation. Buildings are rated, and the Council will take formal action if the required standards are not met.

Do you want to know more?

You can download the Housing Health and Safety Rating System flyer.

For information on home accident prevention visit the RoSPA website.