As the private rented sector continues to evolve, landlords are facing a steady stream of legislative and regulatory changes. The latest update came into effect on 23 June 2026, with changes to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
While these updates don’t introduce new legal obligations, they do change the way local authorities assess hazards within residential properties. Understanding what has changed can help landlords ensure their properties continue to meet the required standards.
What is the HHSRS?
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System is the framework used by local authorities to identify and assess potential health and safety hazards in residential properties.
Its purpose is simple: to ensure homes are safe for those living in them. If a property is found to contain serious hazards, the local authority can require landlords to carry out improvement works.
What’s changed?
The latest update is designed to make assessments clearer and more consistent across England.
The key changes include:
- Simplified hazard ratings – The previous A to J hazard bands have been replaced with three categories: High, Medium and Low.
- Updated harm classifications – The four levels of potential harm are now described as Extreme, Severe, Serious and Moderate, making assessments easier to understand.
- Expanded fire hazard definition – Fire-related hazards now also include risks associated with smoke and fumes, explosions, and structural collapse caused by fire or explosion.
These changes aim to improve consistency for landlords, tenants and local authorities when assessing property safety.
What does this mean for landlords?
In practical terms, your responsibilities haven’t changed.
Landlords are still required to provide safe, well-maintained accommodation and deal with hazards promptly when they arise. However, the updated HHSRS means there is likely to be greater consistency in how local authorities inspect properties and assess risk.
It’s therefore more important than ever to:
- Respond promptly to maintenance issues.
- Keep properties in good repair.
- Address safety concerns before they escalate.
- Maintain records of inspections, repairs and maintenance.
Being proactive not only helps ensure compliance but also protects your investment and provides a better experience for your tenants.
“These updates are designed to bring greater clarity and consistency to how property safety is assessed. While the core responsibilities for landlords remain the same, it’s more important than ever to stay proactive—regular inspections, clear record-keeping and prompt action on maintenance will be key to staying compliant and protecting both your tenants and your investment.”
— Cindy Petts, Head of Property & Tenancy Management
How Home Finders can help
If you’re one of our managed landlords, we’ll continue to help you stay on top of these changes.
Our property management team carries out regular inspections, identifies any maintenance or safety concerns, provides recommendations where works are needed and keeps clear records of inspections and maintenance. This proactive approach helps minimise the risk of issues developing into more significant problems.
With the private rented sector seeing continual legislative reform, having an experienced managing agent has never been more valuable.
Need advice?
If you’d like to discuss how these changes affect your property, or you’re considering moving to a fully managed service, our team is always happy to help.
Get in touch with Home Finders today and let us help keep your investment protected, compliant and performing at its best.
