Introduction

Please see below for useful hints and tips to reduce potential hazards in your home.

Housing Health and Safety Rating System

Guidance for Landlords and Property Related Professionals

PDF, 2MB

Damp and Mould

• Check damp-proof courses, membranes and detailing around doors and window openings
• Keep external fabric in good repair to avoid rain penetration
• Have adequate frost protection for pipes and tanks
• Have properly installed baths, sinks, toilets and plumbing with properly installed drainage
• Ensure drainpipes and gutters are maintained and regularly cleared
• Ensure the roof and underfloor spaces are properly ventilated to keep timber air dry
• Install adequate extraction fans to use when cooking, bathing and drying laundry
• Ensure appropriate ventilation throughout the dwelling

Excess Cold

• Ensure the property is well insulated, with loft insulation and cavity wall insulation where applicable
• Ensure you have an appropriate heating system, safely and properly installed, maintained, and regularly serviced. It should be controllable by the occupant
• Ensure you have appropriate draught proofing around doors and windows while allowing suitable ventilation
• Have appropriate permanent openings, such as air bricks and open-able windows
• Ensure doors and windows fit properly

Excess Heat

• Ensure large areas of south-facing glazing have shuttering or blinds to control heat in the summer months
• Have means of cooling during hot summer weather, either by natural ventilation or air conditioning
• Ensure you can control your heating systems

Asbestos and Manufactured Mineral Fibres

• Make sure any damaged or likely to be damaged or disturbed asbestos is assessed for repair, sealing, enclosure or removal by contractors licensed by the Health and Safety Executive
• Ensure existing asbestos can be managed on-site (covered or protected and the condition monitored) if it is in good condition and unlikely to be damaged, worked on or disturbed
• Do not drill into, hammer or otherwise disturb areas containing suspected asbestos

Carbon Monoxide and Fuel Combustion Products (Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide and Smoke)

• Ensure you have proper installation and maintenance – including regular servicing of gas, oil, solid fuel burning appliances
• Ensure adequate ventilation in rooms with such appliances
• Ensure flues are regularly maintained
• Properly sited and maintained carbon monoxide detectors

Entry by Intruders

• Ensure windows have locks or dead locks
• Fit security lights
• Ensure you have a security chain on the entrance doors

Noise

• Have double or secondary glazing installed on external doors where there are high outside noise levels, such as traffic
• If possible, install triple glazing near sources of very high noise levels, such as airports
• Insulate upper floor, ceiling or roof space where aircraft noise is likely
• Install plumbing from toilets and cisterns sited away from separating walls

Domestic Hygiene and Pests

• Ensure maintenance upkeep of the property to prevent build-up of dirt and dust
• Ensure personal washing, sanitation, food preparation, cooking and storage areas are well maintained and kept in a hygienic condition
• Ensure the exterior of the dwelling is free of cracks and unprotected holes
• Ensure drain openings and toilet basins are sealed with an effective watertight seal
• Ensure drainage inlets for waste and surface water are sealed
• Cover holes in the roof coverings, eaves and verges to prevent entry by small mammals or birds
• Ensure adequate enclosed storage for refuse and recycling awaiting collection or disposal outside the dwelling
• Have suitable storage arrangements for refuse and recycling within the property

Electrical Hazards

• Ensure all electrical wiring installation meets the latest requirements of the Institution of Electrical Engineers British Standard (BS 7671)
• Ensure you have an adequate number of appropriately sited electrical socket outlets
• Ensure you have an appropriately sited fuse box and meter
• Ensure all installations, (such as electricity supply, meters, fuses. wiring, sockets, light fittings and switches) are maintained and kept in good repair

Fire

• Ensure flammable materials are kept away from appliances such as ovens, solid fuel and electric fires
• Ensure electric sockets are suitably sited
• Ensure any electrical surveys are carried out
• Ensure the furniture in your property complies with current regulations (currently the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988)
• Ensure smoke alarms are properly sited, maintained and regularly tested
• Ensure extinguishers and fire blankets are sited correctly – in, for example, kitchens
• Plan a means of escape from all parts of the property