HHSRS Inspection Guide (Step by Step)
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A good HHSRS inspection is systematic, evidenced and repeatable. Whether you’re a surveyor, a housing officer or a landlord checking your own stock, this step-by-step guide walks through how to inspect a property and assess hazards the HHSRS way.
General information for England, not legal advice. Formal HHSRS enforcement assessments are carried out by local authority officers. Confirm current guidance on gov.uk. New to the method? Start with HHSRS explained.
Before you begin
HHSRS is a method of judgement, not a tick-box form. The quality of an inspection comes from inspecting thoroughly, understanding the cause of each hazard, and assessing risk to a vulnerable occupant over the next twelve months. Keep that framing in mind throughout.
Step by step
1. Prepare for the inspection
Gather what you can in advance: property details, previous reports, and any complaint or repair history (damp and mould complaints are especially relevant). Plan a route through the dwelling, and make sure you can record findings — camera, notes, and a moisture meter where damp is in play.
2. Inspect the whole dwelling systematically
Survey every room and external element in a consistent order so nothing is missed. Look for signs of any of the 29 HHSRS hazards, not only the obvious one you were called about.
3. Identify the hazards present
For each potential hazard — including damp and mould growth — record where it is, how extensive it is, and the likely cause. For damp, distinguish condensation from penetrating or rising damp or a specific defect, because it drives both the score and the remedy.
4. Assess likelihood and spread of harm
For each hazard, judge:
- the likelihood of an occurrence leading to harm over the next 12 months, and
- the spread of harm outcomes, from minor through to extreme,
assessed for the vulnerable group most at risk from that hazard.
5. Calculate the hazard score and category
Combine likelihood and harm outcomes into a hazard score, determine the band, and identify whether it’s a Category 1 (most serious) or Category 2 hazard.
6. Record findings and recommend action
Document each hazard with evidence and scores, then set out the action needed to remove or reduce it — prioritising Category 1 hazards. Your record should be clear enough that someone else could follow your reasoning.
Damp and mould: getting the cause right
Most HHSRS challenges on damp and mould come down to cause. A defensible inspection:
- Establishes whether it’s condensation (ventilation, heating, insulation), penetrating damp, rising damp, or a leak/defect.
- Uses readings (moisture, and where useful temperature/humidity) to support the conclusion.
- Avoids the lazy “it’s lifestyle” verdict unless the building genuinely performs and the evidence supports it.
For complex or disputed cases, an independent damp and mould survey is worth commissioning.
Common pitfalls
- Inspecting only the reported room and missing related causes elsewhere.
- Skipping the cause and recording the symptom.
- Under-recording — too little evidence to support the score later.
- Ignoring the vulnerable occupant framing and under-rating real risk.
Build your competence
Carrying out HHSRS assessments well is a learnable, valuable skill — and one worth getting formally trained in if you do it regularly.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
What tools do I need for an HHSRS inspection?
At minimum: a reliable way to record findings and photographs, and good lighting. For damp investigations a moisture meter and, where appropriate, thermohygrometer help establish cause. Knowledge of the HHSRS method matters far more than kit.
How long does an HHSRS inspection take?
It depends on the size and condition of the property and the number of hazards. A thorough, defensible assessment is not a five-minute job — allow enough time to inspect systematically and record properly.
Can a landlord do their own HHSRS check?
Landlords can apply HHSRS principles to understand and reduce risk proactively, and should. But formal assessments for enforcement are carried out by local authority officers, and complex or disputed cases benefit from a qualified surveyor.
How do I record an HHSRS assessment defensibly?
Document each hazard with its location, extent, likely cause, photographs, your likelihood and harm judgements, the resulting score and category, and the recommended action — enough that someone else could follow your reasoning.
Train with a practitioner
CPD-accredited damp, mould and HHSRS courses authored by a working surveyor.
View training courses