Private sector housing standards
The Private Sector Housing and Environmental Health Team offers advice and support to private landlords and also offers help to private tenants who are living in properties that do not meet current housing standards.
Disrepair
If you rent a home you have a basic right to repairs and both you and your landlord have specific responsibilities. More details can be found on the GOV.UK website:
- Landlords responsibilities GOV.UK - Renting out your property
- Tenants responsibilities GOV.UK - Private renting
Hazards
Are there hazards in your privately rented home?
A home should be a safe and healthy environment for everyone. A hazard is something that could cause harm to the health and/or safety of a resident or their visitor.
Hazards within the home are assessed using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) as set out by the Housing Act 2004. There are 29 hazards that are assessed under HHSRS. If a hazard presents a severe threat to the health and safety of an occupant it is known as a category 1 hazard. A less serious hazard is known as a category 2 hazard.
Who is responsible and how should I take action?
Except in a few circumstances, most major and structural repairs will be the responsibility of your landlord. If you believe there is a hazard within your home, you should contact your landlord to try to resolve the issue.
If you have given your landlord what you consider to be a fair and reasonable period of time to investigate and complete any necessary works but no progress has been made you can contact the Private Sector Housing and Environmental Health team for advice or to arrange a HHSRS inspection.
If the investigating officer finds any category 1 hazards in your home, they have a legal responsibility to take further action. If they find a category 2 hazard, they can decide whether it is appropriate to take action or not.
It is usual for the officer to try to deal with the situation informally first, however if the situation is very serious and the landlord will not carry out the required work, the council will consider appropriate enforcement action.
If you are already on a waiting list to be re-housed by the council, please be aware that the HHSRS inspection has no influence on your place in the list. It is a tool to help you in your current property, not a fast track system for rehousing.
Gas safety
All privately rented properties have to obtain a gas safety certificate for appliances on a yearly basis. Please visit: Gas Safe Register for further information.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
New regulation require private sector landlords to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their properties or face a fine of up to £5,000.
For more information about the regulations, please visit: The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015
Minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES)
All landlords should be aware that the Government introduced regulations to make it unlawful to rent out domestic properties with the worst energy rating (F or G), unless a legitimate exemption has been registered.
For more information visit our Minimum energy efficiency standards page.
Electrical safety standards
Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 place a legal duty on all landlords to ensure the electrical installation is safe. These new regulations require landlords to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who is qualified and competent, at least every five years. Landlords have to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their tenants, and to their local authority if requested. The regulations apply to new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.
For more information about the regulations, visit: What do the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require?