HHSRS made practical: a simple self-assessment checklist for landlords

Keeping your property safe and healthy isn’t just good practice it’s the law. The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is how councils assess risks in homes and the new rules are now in place. It looks at the chance of harm occurring from specific hazards (like fire, damp and mould, or unsafe stairs) and how serious that harm could be.

The good news: you don’t need to be an inspector to spot and fix most risks. With a structured walk-through and decent records, you can catch issues early, prioritise what matters, and evidence that you’ve taken reasonable steps to keep the home fit for human habitation.

This guide boils HHSRS into a practical, room-by-room checklist you can use at every tenancy change, annually, and whenever concerns are reported. Pair it with photos and an action log, and you’ll have a solid evidence trail if the council ever asks.

Our full Landlord HHSRS Inspection Checklist is available behind the paywall in the Landlord Toolkit under “Setting up a tenancy,” although you can also use it for inspection visits on tenancies already in place.

What HHSRS is (and isn’t)

• HHSRS is a risk framework, not a pass/fail certificate. It focuses on the likelihood and severity of harm arising from housing conditions.

• Councils can demand action especially for Category 1 hazards (the most serious).

• Many hazards overlap in real homes (e.g., damp, cold, and mould). The right fix often reduces multiple risks at once.

  
  

Top compliance gateways to check first

• Working smoke alarms on every storey and a heat alarm in the kitchen; test them.

• Carbon monoxide alarms in any room with a fixed combustion appliance (e.g., gas boiler, fire, solid-fuel stove); test them.

• In-date Gas Safety Record (if gas) and EICR (electrical) with no outstanding “unsatisfactory” items.

• EPC available and at least band E (or valid exemption).

• No Category 1 damp or mould; working kitchen/bathroom extract and adequate heating.

  
  

How to do a self-assessment that stands up

• Prepare properly: Bring a torch, socket tester, CO/smoke test spray, step ladder (if competent), thermometer, and your last safety certificates.

• Walk every space: Each room first; then stairs/landings, lofts, common parts, outside areas and boundaries.

• Record everything: For each line item, mark OK / Action / N/A, add notes, and tie to photo IDs.

• Prioritise: Fix life-safety issues within 24–72 hours; log temporary controls (e.g., isolate a socket, provide heaters, dehumidifier) while you book contractors.

• Close the loop: Keep your action log updated with completion dates, invoices, and new photos.

  
  

Common quick wins that reduce multiple hazards

• Ventilation: Fit/repair kitchen and bathroom extract and make sure tenants know how and when to use it huge impact on damp and mould.

• Heating and draught-proofing: Ensure the system is functional and controllable; add draught seals and basic insulation to fight excess cold.

• Stairs and lighting: Add/repair handrails, tighten carpets, improve lighting; this tackles several falls hazards in one go.

• Alarms: Interlinked smoke/heat (where appropriate) and CO alarms in the right places simple lifesavers that evidence diligence.

  
  

What to keep on file

• Completed checklist and action log for each inspection.

• Dated photos linked to checklist items.

• Gas/Electrical/EPC/Alarm test records and any manufacturer/service documentation.

• Copies of communications and advice to tenants (e.g., how to ventilate, report repairs, use heating controls).

  
  

If you want to read more on this directly from GOV.UK, see the official HHSRS guidance and baseline indicators here: gov.uk — HHSRS landlord and agent guide.