HHSRS Category 1 hazard: what it means and what happens next

If the council inspects your home and finds serious problems, it may call them "Category 1 hazards" under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Here is what that means, and what the council must do next.

Key facts

• The 2024 to 2025 English Housing Survey found about 9% of homes in England, around 2.3 million, had a category 1 (most serious) hazard under the HHSRS. In the private rented sector the figure was 10%. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK
• The same survey found about 15% of homes in England, around 4.0 million, did not meet the Decent Homes Standard. In the private rented sector the figure was 22%. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK

What is the HHSRS?

The HHSRS is how councils in England judge housing conditions. It covers 29 hazard types that can harm health and safety at home, from damp and cold to electrical dangers and falls on stairs.

Each hazard is scored on how likely harm is, and how bad it would be.

What is a Category 1 hazard?

A Category 1 hazard poses a serious risk to the health or safety of the people living there. It scores 1000 or more.

Common Category 1 hazards in rented homes:

• Damp and mould: lasting damp growing mould, risking chest and lung illness
• Excess cold: a home that cannot be heated properly, risking illness from the cold
• Electrical hazards: dangerous wiring, exposed cables, faulty consumer units
• Falls on stairs: broken banisters, steep stairs, missing handrails
• Fire safety: no working smoke alarms, blocked escape routes, unsafe gas appliances

What must the council do about a Category 1 hazard?

Once a Category 1 hazard is found, the council MUST act. It cannot note it down and walk away.

Its options include:

• Improvement notice: a formal order to do the repairs by a set date, usually at least 28 days away, sooner in urgent cases
• Prohibition order: bans use of some or all of the property until the hazard is fixed
• Emergency remedial action: in urgent cases the council does the work itself and bills the landlord
• Hazard awareness notice: for less urgent cases where formal enforcement is not yet needed, more common for Category 2

What is a Category 2 hazard?

A Category 2 hazard scores under 1000. The council can still act, but it does not have to, the way it must for Category 1. Acting on Category 2 is the council's choice.

What if the landlord ignores an improvement notice?

The council can prosecute, or do the works and claim the cost back. Ignoring an improvement notice is a criminal offence.

Can I use an HHSRS report in a disrepair claim?

Yes. A notice or report from an environmental health officer is powerful evidence in a disrepair claim: an independent, official assessment of your home's condition.

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

Has the council found Category 1 hazards in your home? Or do you believe serious hazards sit unfixed? Call us.

Call us on 0800 030 4669. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.

Sources

• Housing Health and Safety Rating System Regulations 2005 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Housing Act 2004 (legislation.gov.uk)