Recurring concern
Inadequate safety guidance for managing hazards in rented residential properties
First reported 18 Oct 2013•Latest report 11 Dec 2024
What this concern includes
Includes failures of guidance, requirements or associated operational controls specifically governing how landlords, letting agents, housing managers or comparable responsible functions identify, record, communicate, validate or follow up material safety hazards in rented residential properties, including hazards relevant when tenants change and safety equipment requiring independent validation.
Not included
- Excludes ordinary property maintenance or repair failures where no deficiency in the rented-property hazard-management guidance or control process is identified.
- Excludes generic housing policy or building-safety guidance without a material rented-property hazard-management context.
- Excludes clinical, workplace, public-road and other non-residential hazard systems unless the assertion explicitly concerns the same rented residential property-safety process.
- Excludes the underlying hazard itself, such as mould, damp, ventilation or unsafe access, when no failure in the responsible property's hazard-management guidance or controls is asserted.
- Reports
- 6
- Individual concerns
- 6
- Date range
- 2013–2024
- Stated actions
- 6
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of estate-agent guidance on action regarding particular property hazards
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
-
Position
The incident falls outside the enforcement powers applicable to the relevant property management or letting agent and landlord.
Stated by National Trading Standards
-
Position
Housing, health and safety, fire, and environmental health authorities should address the relevant safety concerns.
Stated by National Trading Standards -
Position
Letting agents’ duties generally do not extend to areas outside the property or managing tenants’ or guests’ behaviour.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive -
Position
Responsibility for the flat roof lies outside the letting agents’ responsibilities because it is controlled by the landlord and commercial tenant.
Stated by Network Agencies Ltd -
Position
The landlord and café owner were responsible for taking further action to prevent unauthorised access to the flat roof.
Stated by Network Agencies Ltd
-
Concerns raised1
Failure of residential landlords to ensure the use of safety cords on blinds in rental properties
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
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Action
Produce guidance for landlords on their responsibilities and making existing blinds safer.
Stated by The British Blind and Shutter Association Limited -
Action
Update the child safety website to include landlords and signpost the landlord guidance.
Stated by The British Blind and Shutter Association Limited -
Action
Disseminate the landlord safety guidance through residential letting-sector contacts and member organisations.
Stated by The British Blind and Shutter Association Limited
-
Action
Publicise the blind-cord safety campaign through newsletters to landlords and local authorities and private rented-sector landlord and tenant guides.
Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government -
Action
Identify additional ways to disseminate blind-cord safety information across all housing tenures.
Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of tenant conditions requiring furniture conformity with relevant fire safety standards
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of legal duty for landlords to ensure smoke alarms are working at tenancy commencement
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Action
Complete the secondary legislation needed to fully implement the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.
Stated by Carl Sargeant
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of a legal requirement for landlords or letting agents to assess glass safety
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Position
The Government has no plans to change the HHSRS because its guidance already identifies collisions with doors as a hazard.
Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of HSE guidance to landlords and letting agents on independent validation of gas and other fuel safety equipment in rented property
This report raised 13 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026