The Housing Health and Safety Rating System is being updated for the first time since 2006. From 23rd June, the framework shrinks from 29 hazards to 21. Here’s a quick overview of what’s changing — and why it matters.
The HHSRS is the legal framework used to assess whether a property poses a risk to the health and safety of its occupants. It applies to all tenures — not just rental properties. Owner-occupiers are subject to the same framework, though in practice enforcement is primarily directed at the private rented sector by local authorities.
Hazards are rated as either Category 1 (serious and immediate risk, requiring local authority action) or Category 2 (less urgent, discretionary action).
The five mergers
The 29 existing hazard categories reduce to 21 through five mergers:
| Previous Hazards | New Hazard |
|---|---|
| Biocides + Carbon Monoxide + Uncombusted Fuel Gas + VOCs | Indoor Air Pollutants |
| Domestic Hygiene/Pests/Refuse + Food Safety + Personal Hygiene/Sanitation/Drainage | Domestic Hygiene |
| Falls Associated with Baths + Falling on Level Surfaces | Falls on the Level |
| Fire + Explosions | Fire and Explosions |
| Collision and Entrapment + Position and Operability of Amenities | Collisions, Entrapment and Ergonomics |
All 21 hazards from 23rd June
| Hazard |
|---|
| Damp and Mould Growth |
| Excess Cold |
| Excess Heat |
| Asbestos and Manufactured Mineral Fibres |
| Indoor Air Pollutants (merged) |
| Lead |
| Radiation |
| Crowding and Space |
| Entry by Intruders |
| Lighting |
| Noise |
| Domestic Hygiene (merged) |
| Water Supply |
| Falls on the Level (merged) |
| Falls on Stairs and Steps |
| Falls Between Levels |
| Electrical Hazards |
| Fire and Explosions (merged) |
| Hot Surfaces and Materials |
| Collisions, Entrapment and Ergonomics (merged) |
| Structural Collapse and Falling Elements |
The link to the Renters’ Rights Act
From 1 May 2026, the RRA requires landlords to provide tenants with a Written Statement of Terms. This includes an acknowledgement of the landlord’s obligation to keep the property fit for human habitation — which means free of Category 1 hazards. The duty itself is not new (it has existed since the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018), but the Written Statement means it must now be confirmed in writing at the start of every tenancy.
Want to understand HHSRS in depth — how assessments work, what inspectors look for, and how to protect yourself as a landlord? See our HHSRS course for full guidance.
