Citation, commencement and extent

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

(1) These Regulations come into force on 23rd June 2026.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

Amendment of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) Regulations 2005

2. The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) Regulations 2005(2) are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 9.

Amendment of regulation 2

3. In regulation 2 (interpretation), in the definition of “harm”, for “Classes I to IV as” substitute “the four classes of harm”.

Amendment of regulation 4

4. In regulation 4 (prescribed fire hazard), for the words from “exposure to” to the end substitute—

“—

(a)exposure to uncontrolled fire and associated smoke and fumes,

(b)an explosion, or

(c)the collapse of the whole or part of a building as a result of fire or an explosion.”.

Amendment of regulation 6

5. In regulation 6 (seriousness of hazards)—

(a)in paragraph (2), for Table 1 substitute—

“Table 1

(b)in paragraph (4)(c)—

(i)for “second most likely class of harm”, substitute “first of the other classes of harm”;

(ii)for “third most likely class of harm”, substitute “second of the other classes of harm”;

(iii)for “fourth most likely class of harm”, substitute “third of the other classes of harm”;

(iv)for Table 2 substitute—

“Table 2

(c)in paragraph (6)—

(i)in sub-paragraph (b), for “Class I” substitute “extreme”;

(ii)in sub-paragraph (c), for “Class II” substitute “severe”;

(iii)in sub-paragraph (d), for “Class III” substitute “serious”;

(iv)in sub-paragraph (e), for “Class IV” substitute “moderate”;

(d)in paragraph (7), in the definition of “relevant occupier”—

(i)in sub-paragraph (b), for “6(a)” substitute “4A(b)”;

(ii)in sub-paragraph (f), for “paragraph 17” substitute “paragraphs 14A(5) and (6)”;

(iii)in sub-paragraph (g)—

(aa)for “19”, “20” substitute “18A”;

(bb)for “24” substitute “23A(1)”;

(cc)for “28” substitute “25A(2)”;

(iv)in sub-paragraph (h), for “26” substitute “25A(1).

Amendment of regulation 7

6. In regulation 7 (prescribed bands)—

(a)for “a band identified by a letter”, substitute “one of the bands”;

(b)for “that letter”, substitute “that band”;

(c)for Table 3, substitute—

“Table 3

Amendment of regulation 8

7. In regulation 8 (category of hazard)—

(a)in paragraph (a), for “band A, B or C of” substitute “the High band in”;

(b)in paragraph (b), for “any other band” substitute “the Medium or Low bands”.

Amendment of Schedule 1

8. In Schedule 1 (matters and circumstances)—

(a)after paragraph 4 insert—

Indoor Air Pollutants

4A. Exposure to—

(a)chemicals used to treat timber and mould growth;

(b)carbon monoxide;

(c)nitrogen dioxide;

(d)sulphur dioxide and smoke;

(e)uncombusted fuel gas;

(f)volatile organic compounds.”;

(b)omit paragraphs 5, 6, 9 and 10;

(c)after paragraph 14 insert—

Domestic Hygiene

14A.—(1) An inadequate provision of facilities for the storage, preparation and cooking of food.

(2) Poor design, layout, or construction such that the dwelling or HMO cannot readily be kept clean.

(3) Exposure to pests.

(4) An inadequate provision for the hygienic storage and disposal of household waste.

(5) An inadequate provision of facilities for maintaining good personal hygiene.

(6) An inadequate provision of sanitation and drainage.”;

(d)omit paragraphs 15, 16 and 17;

(e)after paragraph 18 insert—

Falls on the level

18A.—(1) Falls associated with toilets, baths, showers or other washing facilities.

(2) Falling on any level surface.

(3) Falling between surfaces where the change in level is less than 300 millimetres.”;

(f)omit paragraphs 19 and 20;

(g)after paragraph 23 insert—

Fire and explosions

23A.—(1) Exposure to uncontrolled fire and associated smoke and fumes.

(2) An explosion.”;

(h)omit paragraph 24;

(i)after paragraph 25 insert—

Collisions, Entrapment and Ergonomics

25A.—(1) Collision with, or entrapment of body parts in, doors, windows or other architectural features.

(2) The position, location, and operability of amenities, fittings and equipment.”;

(j)omit paragraphs 26 to 28;

(k)in paragraph 29, for “the dwelling or HMO” substitute “a building”.

Amendment of Schedule 2

9. In Schedule 2 (classes of harm)—

(a)in paragraph 1, for the heading and opening words substitute—

Extreme

1.—(1) A harm is within the extreme class of harm if, as a result of the hazard in question, extreme harm is reasonably foreseeable.

(2) Extreme harm includes—”;

(b)in paragraph 2, for the heading and opening words substitute—

Severe

2.—(1) A harm is within the severe class of harm if, as a result of the hazard in question, severe harm is reasonably foreseeable.

(2) Severe harm includes—”;

(c)in paragraph 3, for the heading and opening words substitute—

Serious

3.—(1) A harm is within the serious class of harm if, as a result of the hazard in question, serious harm is reasonably foreseeable.

(2) Serious harm includes—”;

(d)in paragraph 4, for the heading and opening words substitute—

Moderate

4.—(1) A harm is within the moderate class of harm if, as a result of the hazard in question, moderate harm is reasonably foreseeable.

(2) Moderate harm includes—”.

Transitional provision: inspections under section 4 of the Housing Act 2004

10. In relation to inspections under section 4 of the Housing Act 2004 (inspections by local housing authorities to see whether category 1 or 2 hazards exist), the amendments made by these Regulations only apply to an inspection commenced on or after 22nd June 2026.