An HHSRS inspection is how the council checks your home for serious hazards like damp, mould and cold. Here is who can ask, how to do it, and what happens next.
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Direct answer
HHSRS stands for the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. It is the way a council checks if a home has serious hazards, like damp and mould, cold, or unsafe stairs. If you rent privately or from a housing association, you can ask your council's environmental health team to inspect. If your landlord has ignored repairs that are making you ill, also call us free on 0800 030 4669.
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 an HHSRS inspection?
A council officer visits your home and looks for hazards. The most serious ones are called Category 1 hazards. If they find one, the council can order your landlord to put it right.
Who can ask for one?
- Private renters: yes, ask your council's environmental health team.
- Housing association tenants: usually yes, the council can inspect.
- Council tenants: this is harder, because a council cannot easily take action against itself. If you rent from the council, the better routes are the council's complaint process, then the Housing Ombudsman, or a disrepair claim. See the council is ignoring my repairs.
How to ask
- Search online for "[your council name] report a hazard" or "environmental health housing".
- Tell them your address, what is wrong, and how long it has gone on.
- Send photos if you can.
- Keep a copy of everything you send.
How this is different from our inspection
A council HHSRS inspection is about making the landlord act. The inspection we arrange is separate. It builds the evidence for a disrepair claim against your landlord. You can do both. If you want help, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
Free call: 0800 030 4669 | Start your claim
Sources
- Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) guidance (GOV.UK)
- Housing Act 2004, Part 1, HHSRS (legislation.gov.uk)
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 25 May 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.
Related guides
What are your rights as a tenant? Landlord obligations under UK law
Plain-English guide to your rights as a tenant in England and Wales. Section 11, the Fitness for Human Habitation Act, Awaab's Law, repair timeframes, and what to do if your landlord ignores you.
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What is Section 11? (Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, plain English)
Section 11 is the law that makes your landlord responsible for repairs to the structure, exterior, and key services of your home. Plain English explainer.
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What is Awaab's Law? (plain English)
Awaab's Law sets strict legal deadlines for social landlords to fix damp, mould, and emergency hazards. Here's what it means for tenants.
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Still stuck?
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