Councils failing to act on dangerous hazards in properties

Councils are failing to properly inspect properties with potentially dangerous hazards, claims the NRLA.

Under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), local authorities can inspect rented properties for hazards after a tenant complaint and force landlords to fix them.

Freedom of Information data obtained by the NRLA reveals that between 2021 and 2023, just a third of complaints raised by renters were responded to with an HHSRS inspection.

Tenants must have confidence in councils’ ability to act

According to the research, half of all HHSRS inspections were conducted by just 20 local authorities, while 16% of councils couldn’t provide any inspection figures at all.

The data also reveals that 37% of councils were unable to provide any housing tenure-specific data related to tenant complaints.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: “No renters should ever have to put up with unsafe housing.

“Whilst ultimately it is landlords who are responsible for the quality of the housing they provide, tenants must have confidence in councils’ ability to act when renters require assistance.

“Our research paints a worrying picture of councils under strain struggling to respond as they should to tenant complaints. In addition, many do not have the data needed to track enforcement activity properly.”

Mr Beadle adds: “Calls for new laws to tackle rogue and criminal landlords are distracting from the fact that councils routinely fail to make the best use of the powers available to them.

“The focus must be on swift, consistent enforcement. This is in the interest of households and responsible landlords.”

Only 7% of HHSRS inspections led to improvement notices

When hazards are identified during an inspection, councils have several enforcement options, including issuing an Improvement Notice to force landlords to fix the problem.

Following the improvement notice, landlords are then banned from serving a Section 21 ‘no-fault’ possession notice for six months.

Despite these measures, between 2021 and 2023, just 7% of HHSRS inspections led to an Improvement Notice being served.

More than half of notices were served by just 20 local authorities, while 23 councils had served no notices.

Councils should release annual report on enforcement actions

The NRLA is calling for a national Chief Environmental Health Officer to be appointed and for the next government to publish the promised review of the HHSRS.

The organisation also wants councils to release annual reports on their enforcement actions in the private rental sector and show how they’re tackling poor practices and sub-standard housing.

The full report can be read here.

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