MHCLG has commissioned a study to identify the extent to which the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) needs to be updated and revised, including exploring the scope for setting minimum standards as part of the HHSRS framework.
 
As a valued trainer, we seek your views on the HHSRS system and the potential for updating the system. Could you please consider the questions below and provide your views and judgements on the them?

The survey has been tailored to seek your feedback as a HHSRS trainer, how you find delegates understanding of the system and your experiences of assessing dwellings using the HHSRS. Your feedback will be added to the information collected from the stakeholder groups and other sources as part of the HHSRS Scoping Study.

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* 1. Please provide the following personal information:

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* 2. How many years have you been delivering training for HHSRS Practitioners?

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* 3. What sectors of housing professionals have you trained during this time?

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* 4. What aspects of the HHSRS 2 Day Practitioners Course do you believe that trainees have the most difficulty in understanding? Please tick the multi-choice tick choices below as applicable:

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* 5. Following on from Q4, please could you briefly explain your observations detailed above, where applicable?

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* 6. Have you found any deficiencies in dwellings that you consider do not contribute to any of the 29 HHSRS hazards?

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* 7. Have you identified hazards to the health and safety of occupiers that are not addressed by the HHSRS?

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* 8. Have you identified matters that do threaten the health and safety of occupiers but are not addressed by the HHSRS?

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* 9. Do you agree with the principles of the HHSRS as set out in paras 1.12 to 1.18 of the Operating Guidance (pages 8 & 9 of the guidance)? 

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* 10. Do you think the hazard rating process could be simplified or an alternative risk assessment process used? 

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* 11. Do think the hazard rating process requires modification and if so which of the following best describes the degree of modification and review required? (You can select multiple options)

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* 12. Do you agree in the approach of focusing on the potential health effects of any identified deficiencies on the health and safety of the occupiers or potential occupiers?

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* 13. Thinking again of the existing Operating Guidance, are there any aspects of the following that you consider should be reviewed and/or clarified:

  Yes No Don't know
Chapter 2 – Terminology and the Extent and Purpose of the Guidance
Chapter 3 – Overview of Rating Hazards
Chapter 4 – Assessment of Conditions using HHSRS
Chapter 5 – Flats and Other Dwellings in Multi-Occupied Buildings

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* 14. It has been suggested that the evidence base is out of date; so, thinking about the hazard profiles in Annex D of the HHSRS Operating Guidance, please indicate which aspects you consider need updating and the hazards to which these apply. 

  Yes No
Potential for harm
National statistical averages
Health effects
Causes
Preventive measures and the ideal
Relevant matters
Hazard assessment

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* 15. Thinking of the statistical averages, would it be more helpful to have local/regional data rather than national?

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* 16. Would the HHSRS be easier to use if some hazards were amalgamated (e.g. all falls as one hazard)?

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* 17. How do you keep up to date with current research on housing and health to help you in your assessments? (Indicate all that apply.)

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* 18. How do you keep up to date with current building technology developments relating to housing to help you in your assessments? (Indicate all that apply.) 

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* 19. Other than a visual inspection, what other evidence do you obtain as part of the HHSRS inspection and assessment process? 

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* 20. Would you wish to see more Worked Examples of the HHSRS?

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* 21. It has been suggested that there could be a hybrid approach with some 'standards' in addition to the HHSRS. Do you consider this would be helpful?

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* 22. Do you think that the HHSRS Operating Guidance should take account of other legal requirements more explicitly, for example, gas safety certificates and EPCs?

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* 23. Do you feel that the rating system, including the associated judgements and calculations, are applied consistently between housing professionals and if not, why?

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* 24. In your experience, do you feel the rating system is being used by professionals in the way in which it was developed?

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* 25. Do you use digital technology to assist with your inspections and HHSRS assessments to capture information?

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* 26. Would an app for use on hand-held smart technology be beneficial in applying the HHSRS?

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* 27. Do you think the HHSRS currently uses Information Technology (IT) effectively?

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* 28. Do you think there are benefits to the use and implementation of smartphone apps for the following:

  Yes No Don't know
HHSRS Inspection Survey: Recording of deficiencies and photographic evidence
HHSRS Assessment and Calculation

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* 29. Do you believe that HHSRS inspection and assessment data is currently used effectively to support and inform policy and strategic applications, both regionally and nationally?

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* 30. Have you used a sampling methodology in connection with HHSRS inspections of similar property types?

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* 31. Do you think the HHSRS should be replaced by a new approach to assessing housing conditions and determining whether Category 1 (where a local authority must take enforcement action) or Category 2 (where a local authority has the power to take enforcement action) hazards exist?

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* 32. In your view, is there a hazard rating banding level (hazard bands A to J) that makes any identified rating tolerable or otherwise acceptable?

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* 33. Are you satisfied that the local authority has sufficient enforcement options available to them to help address poor housing conditions under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004?

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* 34. Do you think the penalties for non-compliance against residential landlords are adequate?

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* 35. Do you think there are any barriers to enforcing decent living conditions as a result of enforcement activity directed by the HHSRS methodology?

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* 36. Do you consider that, in the determination of the likelihood and severity harm scores, inspectors are influenced in any way by matters of enforcement in generating the hazard score?

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* 37. Are you satisfied in your understanding of what constitutes ‘a dwelling of average condition for a particular type and age’, with reference to the national averages identified in the Operating Guidance hazard profiles?

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* 38. Do you think there would be a benefit in a baseline standard to assist inspectors in identifying a typical dwelling condition for a particular age and type for comparison purposes?

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* 39. Do you think there is a need to review the relationship between the rating system and any of the following areas of housing enforcement:

  Yes No  Don't know
The applications of HHSRS in relation to Part 1 of The Housing Act 2004 (Housing Conditions) enforcement options?
The application of HHSRS in HMOs and the relationship between The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England/ Wales) Regulations 2006.
Do you consider that the HHSRS assessment process in relation to dwellings in HMOs and associated common parts are applied consistently by assessors?

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* 40. If you have any further comments, ideas or suggestions you would like to make on how HHSRS works in practice and what might need to change going forward, please do so below:

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