Glossary · Last reviewed June 2026
What is HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System)?
Definition
The HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System) is the risk-assessment method local authorities in England use to evaluate hazards in residential properties — including damp and mould, excess cold, fire and fall risks — scoring each hazard by the likelihood and severity of harm to occupants.
Hazards are banded into Category 1 (serious — the council must take enforcement action, from improvement notices to prohibition orders) and Category 2 (less serious — the council may act).
A professional damp survey written to HHSRS standards is what gives a landlord a defensible position: it documents whether a reported issue is a genuine Category 1/2 hazard or a ventilation and lifestyle matter, and what remedial work resolves it.
Compliance Without the Homework
LWR Landlord Group Membership tracks every certificate and deadline for you. From £200/month.