Inadequate safety guidance for managing hazards in rented residential properties
First to latest report 18 Oct 2013 — 11 Dec 2024
Reports that mention this concern
6
Times this concern has been raised
6
Stated actions linked to this concern
6
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.
What is 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.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government3
All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group1
Department of Energy & Climate Change1
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service1
GS Halls Limited1
Health and Safety Executive1
Johnnie Johnson Housing1
National Fire Chiefs Council1
National Gas Transmission plc1
National Trading Standards1
Network Agencies Ltd1
Ofgem1
Welsh Government1
Ministerial department3
Type not available2
Ad-hoc advisory group1
Consumer protection enforcement body1
Devolved government1
Economic regulator1
Fire and rescue service1
National fire and rescue body1
Private limited company1
Public limited company1
Workplace safety regulator1
Reports and published responses 6 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Inner North London
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.
Linked responses
Health and Safety Executive
National Trading Standards
Network Agencies Ltd
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
National Trading Standards
The incident falls outside the enforcement powers applicable to the relevant property management or letting agent and landlord.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
National Trading Standards
Housing, health and safety, fire, and environmental health authorities should address the relevant safety concerns.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Health and Safety Executive
Letting agents’ duties generally do not extend to areas outside the property or managing tenants’ or guests’ behaviour.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Network Agencies Ltd
Responsibility for the flat roof lies outside the letting agents’ responsibilities because it is controlled by the landlord and commercial tenant.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Network Agencies Ltd
The landlord and café owner were responsible for taking further action to prevent unauthorised access to the flat roof.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester South
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.
Linked responses
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The British Blind and Shutter Association Limited
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
The British Blind and Shutter Association Limited
Produce guidance for landlords on their responsibilities and making existing blinds safer.
The British Blind and Shutter Association Limited
Update the child safety website to include landlords and signpost the landlord guidance.
The British Blind and Shutter Association Limited
Disseminate the landlord safety guidance through residential letting-sector contacts and member organisations.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Publicise the blind-cord safety campaign through newsletters to landlords and local authorities and private rented-sector landlord and tenant guides.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Identify additional ways to disseminate blind-cord safety information across all housing tenures.
Manchester South
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.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Swansea and Neath Port Talbot
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.
Linked response
Carl Sargeant
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Carl Sargeant
Complete the secondary legislation needed to fully implement the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.
Leicester City and South Leicestershire
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.
Linked response
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Government has no plans to change the HHSRS because its guidance already identifies collisions with doors as a hazard.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Manchester City
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.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.