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Accommodation standards

The Housing Act 2004 (and guidance issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government DCLG) requires that all homes must be healthy and safe. This is assessed by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). It applies to all housing whether rented or owner occupied, family homes or houses in multiple occupation.

Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)

The system has been developed to assess all the 29 hazards that may be present in the home. These hazards can adversely affect the health and safety of occupiers and any visitors.

When major (category 1) hazards are identified the council has a duty to decide on the most satisfactory course of action. In most cases this will be that the owner removes or reduces the risk. Usually this will be by improvement, but in some cases it may be by restricting the occupancy of all or part of the house or even demolition.

For lesser (category 2) hazards the Council may choose to take action.

The Council has approved a Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy; decisions will be taken in accordance with it problems (deficiencies) are identified and their health and safety effects considered. These effects can include any 'negative outcome' (ranging from a minor illness to death) that is likely to occur in the next year. We will produce a score for the hazard; this reflects both the likelihood and seriousness of the outcome. Each hazard is assessed independently; there is no overall score for the property. The higher the score the more serious the threat to health, safety and wellbeing of occupiers (or visitors), and the more likely that action will need to be taken. A score of 1000 or more is a category 1 hazard.

The assessment is based upon government guidance and worked examples. Further information on this is available from the Communities and Local Government website. Visit our Housing Health and Safety Rating System page for more details.

How is this different from the old 'fitness standard'?

The noticeable differences from the old system to the new are as follows:

It targets those housing deficiencies that have a real impact on people's health
Health and safety issues are now considered (for example, trips and falls)
Heating is required to be adequate (instead of the previous standard of a fixed heater in main habitable room)
40,000 people die from cold every year, and the inability to efficiently heat their homes is a major contribution to this death toll
Fire safety applies to all housing
Radon, asbestos, security and other matters are now included

The 29 hazards

Damp and mould growth
Excess cold
Excess heat
Asbestos (and man made fibres)
Biocides (for example insecticides)
Carbon monoxide and fuel
Combustion products
Lead
Radiation
Uncombusted fuel gas
Volatile organic compounds
Crowding and space
Entry by intruders
Lighting
Noise
Domestic hygiene, pests and refuse
Food safety
Personal hygiene, sanitation and drainage
Water supply for domestic purposes
Falls associated with baths, etc.
Falls on the level
Falls associated with stairs and steps
Falls between levels
Electrical hazards
Fire
Flames, hot surfaces etc.
Collision and entrapment
Explosions
Position and operability of amenities etc (ease of use of facilities)
Structural collapse and falling elements

Decency standard

The decency standard is a minimum, 'non statutory' standard set by the Government. Councils have the target of ensuring that 70 per cent of private sector vulnerable households live in decent homes by 2010.

The four criteria the property must meet to be 'decent' are: