The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) has replaced the fitness standard as a method of assessing housing conditions. Rather than a fixed standard, it employs a risk assessment approach to enable risks from hazards to health and safety in dwellings to be minimised. The system applies to all dwellings, regardless of ownership.
The HHSRS addresses all the key issues that affect health and safety. It provides an analysis of just how hazardous a property is and includes evidence and statistical information to assist surveyors in making their judgements.
The key principle of the system is that a dwelling, including the structure and associated outbuildings and garden, yard and/or other amenity space, and means of access, should provide a safe and healthy environment for the occupants and any visitors.
The survey process considers the effect of any hazards in the property. Hazards are rated according to how serious they are and the effect they are having, or could have, on the occupants, ie ‘the effect of the defect’.
EHPs working in local authorities use the system to raise standards in the private sector by requiring owners to take action as necessary to remove or minimise hazards in their properties.