HHSRS Hazards List 2026: What UK Landlords & Tenants Must Know
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) in England was simplified on 23 June 2026 under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. The system reduced the housing hazard number from 29 to 21. It also includes a new scoring technique, baseline indicators and simpler harm classes and rating bands which make property risks easier for landlords and tenants to understand.
At the same time, local councils gain the power to issue fines of up to £7,000 if a serious (High-band) hazard is found. They can issue as soon as they take enforcement action, without giving a warning first.
Around 10% of private rental residences possess at least one of these concerns. Because of this, London landlords need to check their properties carefully and fix any hazards before a council inspection identifies them. Our property compliance certificates service can help you to identify these problems early and to remain fully compliant with the new HHSRS regulations .
What is the Latest HHSRS Hazards Update in 2026?
On 23 June 2026, new rules came into force called The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. They simplify how council inspectors score and label hazards.
From 22 June 2026, local councils started using the updated Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) for all new property inspections. If an inspection begins before this date, it is still assessed under the old rules. These changes are part of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, which also ended Section 21 evictions in May 2026.
HHSRS is now linked to the Decent Homes Standard, which sets out that a home must be free of the most serious (Category 1) hazards to count as “decent”. Social housing is legally required to meet these standards yet. It applies to private rented homes from 2035.
This update does not change what makes a home safe. A property that is well-maintained, warm, and free from damp was compliant before and still is. The main changes are how hazards are assessed, recorded, and how councils respond.
Main HHSRS Hazards Changes
A few things have changed in the way hazards are scored and grouped:
- Fewer hazard categories: The number of hazards has been reduced from 29 to 21 by combining similar risks.
- Simpler scoring bands: The old A-J scale has been replaced with three bands: High (1,000 points or more), Medium (100-999), and Low (under 100). A High hazard is the same as the old Category 1 hazard, so councils must still take action.
- New names for harm levels: Classes I to IV are now called Extreme, Severe, Serious, and Moderate. The assessment criteria have not changed.
- Fire hazards cover more risks: Assessors now also consider smoke, fumes, explosions, and structural collapse caused by fire.
Which HHSRS Hazards Categories Have Been Merged
Some hazards that were previously assessed separately are now grouped together:
- Indoor Air Pollutants combine chemical risks, combustion fumes, gases, and other airborne pollutants.
- Domestic Hygiene now includes kitchens, building cleanliness, pests, waste storage, and washing and sanitation facilities.
- Falls on the Level combines bathroom slips with other trips and falls on flat or slightly uneven surfaces.
- Fire and Explosions brings together fire, smoke, and explosion risks in one category.
- Collisions, Entrapment and Ergonomics covers risks from doors, windows, fittings, and getting trapped or injured by them.
Found an issue at your property and not sure how to fix it? Our property management Services includes Regular inspections and maintenance for you.
Category 1 vs Category 2: How HHSRS Enforcement Works
The council’s duty to act still depends on the hazard category:
- A High-band hazard (previously Category 1) means the council must take action.
- A Medium or Low-band hazard (previously Category 2) means the council can take action but is not legally required to.
| Note: This applies to England only |
These HHSRS changes only apply to England. Wales has a similar system, but it’s not the same as England’s HHSRS. Scotland uses different rules called the Repairing Standard and the Tolerable Standard. Northern Ireland has its own separate rules too. If your property is outside England, these rules and fines don’t apply to you. Check the rules for your own country instead.
HHSRS Hazards List: The Full 21 Categories
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System assesses 21 types of hazards that could affect the health and safety of people living in a property. Each hazard is scored based on the level of risk. If a hazard is classed as High (previously Category 1), the council must take action. Landlords could face enforcement action, including fines of up to £7,000.
- Damp and mould growth: Exposure to house dust mites, damp, mould or fungal growths.
- Excess cold: Exposure to low temperatures.
- Excess heat: Exposure to high temperatures.
- Asbestos and MMF: Exposure to asbestos fibres or manufactured mineral fibres.
- Indoor air pollutants (new amalgamated hazard): Covers exposure to uncombusted fuel gas, chemicals used to treat timber and mould, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and smoke, and volatile organic compounds.
- Lead: The ingestion of lead.
- Radiation: Exposure to radiation.
- Crowding and space: A lack of adequate space for living and sleeping.
- Entry by intruders: Difficulties in keeping the dwelling or HMO secure against unauthorised entry.
- Lighting: A lack of adequate lighting.
- Noise: Exposure to noise.
- Domestic hygiene (new amalgamated hazard): Covers inadequate food storage, preparation and cooking facilities, poor design or layout that makes the property hard to keep clean, pest exposure, inadequate waste storage and disposal, inadequate personal hygiene facilities, and inadequate sanitation and drainage.
- Water supply: An inadequate supply of water free from contamination, for drinking and other domestic purposes.
- Falls on the level (new amalgamated hazard): Covers falls associated with toilets, baths, showers or other washing facilities, falls on any level surface, and falls between surfaces where the change in level is less than 300mm.
- Falling on stairs: Falling on stairs, steps or ramps where the change in level is 300mm or more.
- Falling between levels: Falling between levels where the difference is 300mm or more.
- Electrical hazards: Exposure to electricity.
- Fire and explosions (new amalgamated hazard): Covers exposure to uncontrolled fire and associated smoke and fumes, and explosions.
- Flames or hot surfaces: Contact with controlled fire or flames, or hot objects, liquids or vapours.
- Collisions, entrapment and ergonomics (new amalgamated hazard): Covers collision with, or entrapment of body parts in, doors, windows or other architectural features, and the position, location and operability of amenities, fittings and equipment.
- Structural collapse and falling elements: The collapse of the whole or part of the dwelling, building or HMO.
Old vs New HHSRS Hazards System
| Feature | Old System (before 1 May / 22 June 2026) | New System (from 22–23 June 2026) |
| Number of hazards | 29 | 21 |
| Scoring bands | 10 bands, lettered A to J | 3 bands: High, Medium, Low |
| Category 1 threshold | Score 1,000+ | Same, score 1,000+ (now called “High”) |
| Category 2 threshold | Score under 1,000 | Same, Medium (100–999) and Low (under 100) |
| Harm class names | Class I, II, III, IV | Extreme, Severe, Serious, Moderate |
| Fire hazard scope | Direct fire/flame exposure | Fire, smoke, fumes, explosion, structural collapse from fire |
| Instant fine for finding a hazard? | No, improvement notice required first | Yes, council can fine immediately, no notice needed first |
| Fine if improvement notice ignored | Up to £30,000 | Up to £40,000 |
| New “on the spot” fine for Category 1 / High hazard | Did not exist | Up to £7,000 (draft starting point £6,000) |
| Applies to | All rented homes in England | Same |
| Council’s duty on Category 1 / High | Must act | Must act (unchanged) |
| Council’s duty on Category 2 / Medium Low | Discretionary | Discretionary (unchanged) |
HHSRS Hazards Fines (£7,000 Penalty)
From 22 June 2026, councils can fine landlords up to £7,000 if they find a serious Category 1 hazard that should have been fixed. They do not have to give a warning first. They can issue the fine as soon as they take enforcement action, and they can also serve it along with another notice, such as an improvement notice, rather than only as an alternative to one.
Before giving a fine, the council must be reasonably sure that a hazard exists and that the landlord could have fixed it. Landlords who respond quickly when tenants report problems may be in a better position if enforcement action is considered. They can also appeal if they think the fine is unfair or incorrect.
£7,000 vs £40,000: What’s the Difference?
People often get confused between these two fines:
- Up to £7,000: This fine is for a serious Category 1 hazard. The draft guidance says councils should usually start at £6,000, then increase or reduce the amount based on the circumstances.
- Up to £40,000: This is a separate, higher penalty for offences such as failing to comply with an improvement notice. Councils can issue this instead of taking the landlord to court.
Can a Landlord Be Fined More Than Once?
Landlords can be fined more than once for the same property. If a property has numerous individual Category 1 dangers, the council can issue a separate fine for each one. However, if the same issue creates many dangers, for example a damaged boiler that leads to excessive cold and wetness, the council could treat them as one concern and impose only one fine.
What Should Tenants Do If They Spot a Hazard?
If you are worried about damp and mould, cold, or any other safety problem in your rented home, you can take these steps:
Report it to your landlord or agent in writing: Email or text is best because it keeps a record of when you reported the problem.
Give them a reasonable chance to fix it: Most repairs should be sorted within a reasonable timeframe, especially anything serious.
Contact your local council if nothing happens: The council can investigate your home and take enforcement action, including fines, if they uncover a major (Category 1) hazard.
If the problem is harming your health, speak to a GP or call NHS 111. Damp, mould, and cold conditions can cause health problems and should be treated seriously.
You do not need your landlord’s permission to contact the council. You have the right to report a safety problem and a landlord cannot legally evict tenant for reporting a genuine concern about your home.
What Hasn’t Changed
It might seem the whole system has changed with the new names and bands. But the basic safety rules in England are still the same. Here’s what you need to know that these following points are unchanged:
The safety standard has not changed. If a home was safe before on the old system, it’s still safe under the new system. The basic idea of what makes a decent and safe home is the same.
Landlords still have a responsibility to fix serious hazards. Category 1 hazards are now called “High” hazards, but the requirement to fix such issues on priority is not changed. Landlords must still take action when a serious risk is found.
The harm levels have only been renamed. The old Classes I to IV are now called Extreme, Severe, Serious, and Moderate. The names have changed, but their purpose is the same.
The way hazards are assessed also remains similar. Inspectors still check problems, give them a score, and place them into a risk category. The main difference is that the new system now uses less and even simpler bands.
Overall, this update is mainly about making the system easier to understand. It does not introduce new rules entirely about what makes a home safe.
Final Verdict
The HHSRS hazards update in England (23 June 2026) will improve the assessment and classification of housing risks. It helps professionals to better identify hazards and makes inspections more structured.
If major dangers are found and not addressed, local authorities might initiate enforcement action. In some scenarios, civil penalties might be up to £7,000 for each offence, depending on the severity and the circumstances. This change encourages landlords to respond fast, maintain properties appropriately, and promote safer living conditions across England.
Frequently Asked Questions
The revised HHSRS now has 21 hazards, down from 29. The risks aren’t eliminated. Instead, they are re-arranged and put together so that the system is clearer and easier to use.
Yes. Councils can now immediately fine landlords if they find a Category 1 hazard, without warning or time to fix the problem first.
The most common major dangers are falls, extreme cold, and damp and mould. Councils are more likely to act if they find problems such as unsafe stairs, loose carpets, uneven floors, poor heating or damp and mould in a rental property.
The council can fine them up to £40,000, if a landlord ignores an improvement notice. In serious cases, they can also take legal action.
Yes. The new HHSRS rules cover all rented homes in England, whether privately or socially rented. They apply to inspections conducted on or after 22 June 2026. Inspections that started before this date follow the prior rules.
Landlords should keep records of inspections, repairs, invoices, complaints from tenants and evidence of work done, such as repairs to heating, insulation, damp or mould. Keeping clear and chronological documents might help you if there is a dispute.
Letting agents should update their paperwork and train staff on the new HHSRS changes. They should replace old references to the 29 hazards with the new 21-hazard system. The responsibility to keep rental homes safe is still the same.
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