Landlords are required to maintain their properties.
If you live in a private rented property and you are concerned about the safety of the property or any item of disrepair you should contact your landlord in the first instance. If your landlord is refusing to carry out repairs, we may be able to help you. You can contact the service by filling out an online 'service request' form, by texting your name and housing problem to 07797 877017, or by viewing details for 'Private Housing' shown below.
Private Housing can carry out assessments of any defects at a privately rented property under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). This is a prescribed method of assessing individual hazards within a dwelling, rather than a general standard to give a judgment of fit or unfit. The HHSRS is evidence based – national statistics on the health impacts of hazards encountered in the home are used as a basis for assessing individual hazards. The HHSRS deals with a much broader range of issues than the previous fitness standard. It covers a total of 29 hazards in four main groups:
• Physiological Requirements (e.g. damp & mould growth, excess cold, asbestos, carbon monoxide, radiation, etc)
• Psychological Requirements (crowding and space, entry by intruders, lighting, noise)
• Protection Against Infection (domestic hygiene pests and refuse, food safety, personal hygiene sanitation and drainage, water supply)
• Protection Against Accidents (e.g. falling on level surfaces, falling on stairs, falling between levels, electrical hazards, fire, collision, etc).
More details on this system can be found using the link below.
If there are serious defects at the property we may decide it is appropriate to take enforcement action against the landlord. This will always depend on the seriousness of the hazard and be in line with our enforcement policy.
Southampton City Council
