Landlord HHSRS inspection template launched

Landlords and agents can bring inspection standards into line with the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) as the Renters’ Rights Act moves closer.

That’s because the Act adopts the HHSRS to define statutory hazards in rented properties and how they should be evidenced.

Property management software platform Inventory Base has now launched an HHSRS-compliant inspection template built around the statutory hazard framework.

The firm says the structure reflects the same risk model used by local authorities during enforcement assessments.

HHSRS risk model

The firm’s operations director, Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, says: “HHSRS is the framework councils use to decide whether a home is genuinely safe.

“If landlords and agents aren’t inspecting against that same risk model, serious hazards can be missed – and that puts tenant health at risk long before enforcement ever enters the picture.”

She added: “With the Renters’ Rights Act commencing in May 2026, scrutiny will intensify and property managers need to be ready.

“Structured HHSRS assessments will become a core part of responsible portfolio management – not only identifying risks but managing them proactively across the full property lifecycle.”

Category 1 hazards

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System, introduced under the Housing Act 2004, remains the legal test for residential safety.

The identification of a Category 1 hazard requires the local council to act.

The English Housing Survey 2022–23 data shows about 9% of homes in England contain at least one Category 1 hazard, which is around 2.1 million properties.

All 29 statutory hazard categories are embedded into inspection workflows so landlords can score hazards within official operating guidance.

The system then classifies risks into Category 1 or Category 2 bands with standardised inspection outputs to support record retention and compliance trails.

The template is live on the firm’s platform and can be used across check-ins, mid-term visits and compliance reviews.