From 29 to 21 HHSRS hazards: a plain English summary.

From 23 June 2026 the HHSRS list has 21 hazards. Amending regulations merged several of the earlier 29 hazards and renumbered Schedule 1 with new paragraphs such as 4A, 14A, 18A, 23A and 25A.

• GOV.UK describes the review as amalgamating hazards that are statistically similar in likelihood and harm, reducing the number from 29 to 21.
• Paragraphs 5, 6, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 24 and 26 to 28 were omitted. Paragraphs 4A, 14A, 18A, 23A and 25A were inserted. Paragraph 29 was amended to refer to a building.
• The scoring method also changed: ten bands became three (High, Medium, Low), and the classes of harm were renamed.
• The amendments apply to local authority inspections that start on or after 22 June 2026.

1. legislation.gov.uk, The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/571, regulations 8 and 10. Source

England · In force 23 June 2026 · Last checked 17 October 2026

HHSRS category 1 and 2 describe how serious a hazard is on a scored assessment. Awaab’s Law uses a different test and does not require an HHSRS assessment.

• A category 1 hazard is one whose score falls in the prescribed band for category 1. Since 23 June 2026 that is the High band. Category 2 covers the Medium and Low bands.
• A local housing authority must take enforcement action where a category 1 hazard exists (section 5) and has powers to act on category 2 hazards (section 7).
• HHSRS assesses a notional vulnerable occupant. Awaab’s Law looks at the individual circumstances of the household and does not require a category 1 hazard.
• A significant hazard is one a reasonable landlord, with the knowledge it has or ought to have of the occupier’s health and circumstances, would make safe within 15 working days (but not within 24 hours). An emergency hazard is one it would make safe within 24 hours.

1. legislation.gov.uk, Housing Act 2004, sections 2, 5 and 7; SI 2025/1042, regulation 3. Source

England · Last checked 17 October 2026

Regulation 3 defines a significant hazard by HHSRS Schedule 1 paragraph number. The names below are from Schedule 1 as amended and agree with the hazards GOV.UK names in its Phase 2 guidance, with the wording differences listed.

• The amended text of regulation 3 is part of the draft amending Regulations, which are not yet made. See the status item on the Rollout timeline tab.
• Paragraph 2: Excess cold. GOV.UK: excess cold. Agrees.
• Paragraph 3: Excess heat. GOV.UK: excess heat. Agrees.
• Paragraph 14A: Domestic Hygiene (food facilities, ability to keep clean, pests, waste, personal hygiene facilities, sanitation and drainage). GOV.UK: domestic hygiene, described as including personal hygiene and food safety. Agrees in substance; the Schedule does not use the words food safety.
• Paragraph 18A: Falls on the level (including falls associated with toilets, baths, showers and washing facilities, falling on any level surface and falls where the change in level is under 300mm). GOV.UK: falls on the level, including baths and showers. Agrees.
• Paragraph 21: Falling on stairs etc. Paragraph 22: Falling between levels. GOV.UK: falls on stairs and falls between levels. Agrees.
• Paragraph 23: Electrical hazards. GOV.UK: electrical hazards. Agrees.
• Paragraph 23A: Fire and explosions. GOV.UK: fire and explosions. Agrees. The excluded fire hazard in regulation 3(2) is a separate carve out for FSO regulated common parts.
• Paragraph 29: Structural collapse and falling elements, ‘the collapse of the whole or part of a building’. GOV.UK’s triage guidance defines the hazard by reference to ‘a dwelling’. The Schedule’s wording is the text in force.
• Damp and mould is not a numbered paragraph in regulation 3. It is named in the words ‘damp, mould or fungal growths’, which match paragraph 1.

1. GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk, SI 2025/1042 as amended from 30 November 2026, regulation 3(2); HHSRS Regulations 2005, Schedule 1 as amended. Source

England · Due to take effect 30 November 2026 · Last checked 17 October 2026

The 2026 amending Regulations are published by GOV.UK as a consolidated text, but they have not been made. Parliamentary approval is incomplete: the House of Lords approved the draft on 14 October 2026 and the House of Commons has not yet approved it.

• Draft affirmative procedure. The draft was laid before both Houses on 13 July 2026.
• The House of Lords approved the instrument on 14 October 2026.
• The House of Commons has not yet approved it. A Delegated Legislation Committee debate is listed for 19 October 2026 on the Parliament procedure browser.
• legislation.gov.uk shows it as a draft statutory instrument, not as made, as at 17 October 2026.
• GOV.UK has published the Regulations as they will have effect from 30 November 2026 and describes that date as subject to Parliamentary approval.
• Until the Regulations are made, the Phase 2 text on this page, including the nine hazard paragraphs and the reasonable landlord test, is not settled.

1. UK Parliament (procedure browser), The Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, draft, work package made available 13 July 2026. Source

England · Published 13 July 2026 · Last checked 17 October 2026