Following the Summary report: outcomes and next steps for the review of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS),we have just been notified of the government’s intention to pursue the formal due process and implementation of the new HHSRS regulations and guidance for England. Housing experts at RHE Global, who led the review, brought together leading housing professionals and academics to evaluate numerous aspects of the HHSRS, including the number of hazards, how hazards are scored and banded, and how indicative baseline standards could be considered as part of the risk assessment process. This work also entailed the production of new guidance documents and case studies to support housing professionals in using the system effectively and consistently. 

Since the conclusion of the review, the government has been assessing those recommendations alongside wider housing and building safety reforms within the sector. The instigation of due process marks a major milestone in the implementation of the findings, heralding substantive and welcome reform of the HHSRS and associated guidance. 

The government is expected to introduce the new HHSRS regulations to Parliament in the coming months, which will be followed by a period of parliamentary scrutiny. Once due process is satisfactorily completed, there will be a phased lead-in period, with full implementation of the updated HHSRS expected several months later. This will give local authorities, landlords, housing professionals and other stakeholders the necessary time to adapt to the revised framework, update internal procedures and ensure compliance.

' We’re reliably informed that important updates on the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS2) are on their way. With so much focus across the sector on other critical reforms, from Awaab’s Law to the Decent Homes Standard and Building Safety legislation, it’s easy to forget just how pivotal the HHSRS review is to the way we assess and improve housing conditions. This next phase represents a major step forward for local authorities, landlords and housing professionals alike.' Alan Davies Director of Housing - RHE Global

RHE Global will publish a detailed client briefing as soon as the official timeline and draft regulations are made available. We encourage our partners to remain aware of the forthcoming HHSRS changes and to begin considering how existing compliance processes and assessment tools may evolve under the updated framework. While no immediate action is required, it is expected that the reforms will have a substantial and measurable impact on how housing conditions are assessed. We will be available to support all housing professionals throughout this process with advice, guidance and a suite of updated training courses, RIAMS procedures and resources. The Housing App will also be updated to reflect the new scoring system from the updated guidance.

This marks a significant step forward for housing standards, updating a system which is now 20 years old, to reflect modern housing challenges. The new criteria will align with health, safety, energy and building safety concerns, and reaffirm the role of the HHSRS as the primary means of enforcement against poor housing conditions. RHE Global is proud to have been at the forefront of the review process, and we look forward to supporting all sectors throughout its implementation.

In the latest episode of our podcast, host Jim Nixon sits down with Rob Halford, managing director and founder of RHE Global, for an in-depth conversation about innovation, leadership and the journey of building a technology company that’s changing the way local authorities and professionals work.

Rob shares the story of how RHE Global began, from the early development of the company’s pioneering digital information management system RIAMS to the creation of The Noise App, a groundbreaking tool that transformed how environmental health teams handle noise complaints. What started as an ambitious idea has evolved into a suite of innovative digital products, specialist training and consultancy services that help public sector teams work more efficiently and effectively across the UK and beyond.

During the interview, Rob reflects on the challenges of starting a business that was technologically ahead of its time. He discusses how perseverance, collaboration and adaptability were crucial in navigating those early years. 

When it comes to leadership, Rob emphasises the importance of humility and continuous learning. True leadership, he explains, is about empowering others, listening and creating an environment where great ideas can thrive. 

Looking ahead, Rob shares his thoughts on what’s next for RHE Global, from expanding existing products to exploring new areas of digital innovation that help professionals adapt to an ever-changing world.

You can listen to the full interview with Rob Halford here.

Everyone involved in the private rented sector (PRS) will be aware that some significant changes are on the horizon. Recently, Jeremy Manners sat down with Al Mcclenahan from Justice for Tenants (JFT) to chat about where things are heading, following royal assent of the Renters’ Rights Act, and how councils can enforce the rules, with support from JFT and RIAMS.  

From estate agent to tenants’ advocate 

Al didn’t start out as a champion for tenants’ rights and local authority enforcement. He owned an estate agent and was running the letting side of the business when he realised the business pressures just weren’t sitting right with him: landlords wanting specific types of tenants, dodgy practices around deposits . . . it was legal, but it wasn’t ethical. Eventually, he sold up and walked away to set up JFT with his co-founder, Matt. What started as a small service to help tenants with poor written English dispute deposits has now grown into a national organisation supporting over 15,000 tenants and councils every year. 

Taking enforcement seriously 

One of JFT’s biggest roles is supporting tenants. They’ve been behind 75–80% of all rent repayment orders in England, working on around 550 new cases each year. Through this work, they noticed how uneven housing enforcement could be between councils; some went heavy on prosecutions, others barely touched civil penalties at all. 

JFT addressed this inconsistency by building best practice, offering training and creating their now-famous Civil Penalty Notice (CPN) Generator, which allows practitioners to apply policies quickly and consistently. What used to take officers 40 hours of paperwork can now be done in minutes, providing a robust defence on appeal to the tribunal. 

Al explained that the tool has now surpassed its two-year mark, with officers using it to issue millions of pounds worth of penalties during that time, and JFT reviewing around 130 CPNs per month.  

The Renters’ Rights Act – What are the big changes? 

Both Jeremy and Al agree that the end of Section 21 no-fault evictions and the removal of fixed-term tenancies on 1 May 2026 are the biggest changes coming. For years, tenants who complained about poor housing conditions were often just handed a Section 21 and told to leave. Removing that power shifts things considerably: renters can finally feel empowered to stand up for their rights without the fear of losing their home. Feeling more secure for the longer term is likely to have meaningful wellbeing benefits for individuals and families. 

Other changes include: 

• New investigatory powers: from 27 December 2025 councils will have further powers to require information from people and the potential to seize documents from lettings agents 

  
  

• Clearer rules around rent increases and easier ways for tenants to challenge them 

  
  

• Written tenancy agreements for all renters (amazingly, many renters still don’t have one) 

  
  

• A PRS database which all landlords and properties must be registered on 

  
  

• A PRS Ombudsman which all landlords must sign up to, enabling tenants to complain about a landlord’s actions and seek redress from an independent body 

  
  

• The Decent Homes Standard being extended to the PRS. 

And not to be forgotten, Awaab’s Law phase one applies to the social sector and will come in for the PRS in due course, requiring significant hazards to be addressed in statutory timeframes. 

In short, tenants gain more security and enhanced rights to challenge poor practice, and councils get sharper tools to tackle breaches and offences. 

Why enforcement policies matter 

Al warns that overarching enforcement policies that promise informal action or ‘education first’ can be used against councils on appeal (even where an offence is clear) because landlords can argue that the authority did not follow its own policy.  

That’s why JFT has developed a Model Housing and Licensing Enforcement Policy, which aims to be ‘black or white’, aligns with statutory duties and avoids conflicts with the Regulators’ Code when duties require formal action.  

As Al put it: We work with around 135 local authorities (about 40% in England) on civil penalty policies and ‘consistency is everything’. If one officer issues a penalty where another wouldn’t, that’s not fair in the eyes of the tribunal.  

Working with so many councils has also led JFT to draft model licensing conditions, noting how often current conditions are unenforceable. Their approach tightens wording to make conditions workable and less open to appeal. 

Looking ahead 

The Renters’ Rights Act brings at least 25 new offences that councils will have responsibility to enforce with civil penalties, making it a core part of every housing practitioner’s job. 

The good news? With tools like RIAMS Procedures and JFT’s Model Housing Enforcement Policy and model licensing conditions available on RIAMS Libraries, and The Housing App and the CPN Generator there to make the job more efficient, councils won’t be starting from scratch. Additionally, Al and Jeremy predict that standardisation will increase via statutory guidance for civil penalties, nudging councils toward consistent starting fine levels. 

And finally 

Both Al and Jeremy are in no doubt that this is a seismic moment in the PRS. It represents considerable work for councils and may take some time to bed in, but it offers a real opportunity to reset rights, consistency and wellbeing outcomes for tenants.  

RIAMS Libraries - Documents available now 

• RRA procedures and guidance: live documents subject to revision as the RRA is implemented  

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• Model licensing conditions for selective licensing and HMO licensing 

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• Model housing and licensing enforcement policy: to support consistent enforcement.  

The latest updates and insights from RIAMS Chief Editor Jeremy Manners

Welcome to November’s edition of RIAMS Unpacked, where I’ll give you a quick update on what’s new, what’s been reviewed and anything significant that has come across my desk in the world of environmental health. 

I go on holiday for half term and look what happens! The Renters’ Rights Act received royal assent, Awaab’s Law comes into force for social landlords and the Food Standards Agency updates both the food law code of practice and practice guidance for England, Northern Ireland and Wales. 

And . . . yet another senior government minister, this time the chancellor, falls foul of the law. Our guest blog by Jamie McGowan, housing specialist pupil barrister at Garden Court Chambers, discusses whether Rachel Reeves has a reasonable excuse for failing to license the four-bedroom home she rents out in Dulwich: Does the Chancellor Have a Reasonable Excuse?  

I met up with Ellis Turner from the University of the West of England and joined fellow EH professionals Mike Williams (Food Alert), Rob Easton (Shield Safety) and Julia Wilson (Middlesex University) to discuss working in environmental health in the private sector and how to make the most of opportunities. You can listen to the podcast here. This reminded me of a blog I wrote last year, Five Tips for a Successful Environmental Health Interview, which I hope still proves useful for EHPs looking for a new role.  

Ali Thomas and I also met up with Paul Oatt to have a further chat and address some of the outstanding questions from September’s Housing Roundtable on the skills and knowledge shortage in PSH enforcement. You can watch the follow-up video here.  

Our next Housing Roundtable, sponsored by AirTrap, will be held on 2 December, where we will be welcoming Professor John Edwards. He will be sharing his expertise on damp and mould in buildings and offering advice on how to assess risks and find the right solutions. Register here. 

Operation Jigsaw has been ramping up the training and guidance for LAs as the powers introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act get closer to implementation. Speak to your Operation Jigsaw regional rep to ensure you stay up to date. 

In the news…

Here are some news stories that caught my eye over the last few weeks: 

• Richmond-Upon-Thames Council fined a woman £150 for pouring her leftover coffee down a road drain as she boarded a bus. Upon reflection, the council decided to cancel the fixed penalty notice (BBC News). Nonetheless, a helpful procedure and associated notice for environmental offences were at their disposal here in RIAMS Libraries! 

• The BBC reported on how Bristol City Council has a huge backlog of damp and mould complaints and will be unable to comply with the requirements of Awaab’s Law. The report highlighted that the council has 2,200 active damp and mould cases in its council-owned social housing stock. Clearly, this is not going to be a challenge that is confined to only one social housing provider but is likely to be representative across the country. Our training webinar Understanding and Managing Damp and Mould in Domestic Property has been updated – a few places are still available on 16 December. 

• Nineteen people who ate Sunday lunch at a pub in Cwmbran, Wales, on 5 October were confirmed by the local authority to have had food poisoning caused by Clostridium perfringens (Wales Online). Clostridium perfringens can develop spores which can survive cooking and germinate into viable cells during slow cooling and unrefrigerated storage. This story is a stark reminder of the importance of robust food safety processes for processing, storing and handling food correctly. We have a range of food procedures and associated templates on RIAMS Libraries relating to food sampling, inspections, complaints and investigations. 

Legal and regulatory insights  

• Renters’ Rights Act 2025: After passing all of the political hurdles, the Act received royal assent on 27 October 2025. This has been a long time coming and represents massive changes in the private rented sector for England. Wasting no time, the government has issued a raft of guidance for local authorities and landlords and letting agents to support implementation.   

• November 2025 guidance: 

  • Guidance for local authorities and councils 

  • Guidance for landlords and letting agents  

  • Guide to the Renters’ Rights Act  

• Implementation roadmap: I have summarised the roadmap in a LinkedIn post here, detailing the implementation dates for the key provisions. The main date everyone is talking about is 1 May 2026, although for LHAs, 27 December 2025 is the first date practitioners will need to be aware of; this is when new investigatory powers come in (see the RIAMS procedure Renters’ Rights Act 2025, Part 4, Chapter 3: Investigatory Powers HP247E). 

• Crime and Policing Bill: This is currently at committee stage in the House of Lords. 

• Food Law COP and Practice Guidance: These were all updated on 23 October by the FSA for England, Northern Ireland and Wales.  

• Awaab’s Law for social housing: Implementation of Phase 1 came in on 27 October 2025 for significant damp and mould hazards and all emergency hazards. The government guidance has been updated, as has the RIAMS Procedure Guidance Note: Awaab’s Law HP256E and our free Navigating Awaab’s Law: Guidance for Social Landlords e-learning. 

• HMO Licensing in Northern Ireland: Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has indicated his intention to increase the maximum HMO licensing fee that councils can charge landlords. 

• Tobacco and Vapes Bill: This is currently at committee stage in the House of Lords. The headline measure of the bill aims to create a ‘smoke-free generation’ by banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. A call for evidence to help support policy development is open until 3 December.

• Supporting economic growth and reducing regulatory burden: The Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade have set out plans to support innovation and economic growth, and are seeking views from businesses on how they are impacted by regulations. 

• Primate licensing: The Institute of Licensing is running an awareness campaign on the new primate licensing requirements that come into force on 6 April 2026. Procedures and documents to support practitioners can be found in RIAMS Libraries.   

• Martyn's Law myth buster and leaflet has been published by the Home Office to support existing guidance and public understanding. 

What’s new on RIAMS Libraries?  

Streamlined support for local authority enforcement 

RIAMS Libraries is an online subscription platform that provides a comprehensive library of practical and easily accessible procedures, notices, letters, guidance and forms covering all specialisms of environmental health. Supporting local authorities in delivering robust and consistent enforcement, RIAMS provides a cost-effective solution for your team, keeping your officers on the front line. 

During October, we updated 202 documents on RIAMS Libraries and reviewed 100 procedures for England, Northern Ireland and Wales. We also added new procedures on: 

• Remediation Orders under the Building Safety Act 2022 HP260E , together with a template letter of claim 

• Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, Section 65: Scavenging of Common Courts and Passages (PHP96N) 

• Housing and Licensing Team Enforcement Policy: This model policy was developed by Justice for Tenants to incorporate the new requirements under the Renters’ Rights Act. I met up with JfT’s founder Al Mcclenahan to discuss the work they are doing and why a consistent policy is so important. Read the blog here. 

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If your organisation doesn’t yet subscribe to RIAMS Libraries, contact RHE Global to request a free demonstration and trial.  

What’s new on RIAMS Communities? 

Local authority practitioners continue to sign up to our environmental health forums and engage in conversations. Take the opportunity to join the discussion and network with colleagues in your chosen subject areas here.  

Take a look at our guest blog by Jamie McGowan, housing specialist pupil barrister at Garden Court Chambers, on the Rachel Reeves renting debacle: Does the Chancellor Have a Reasonable Excuse? 

Thanks to Dr Tim Everett for providing some further tribunal decisions, now available in Housing Professionals. 

And we have published the Housing Roundtable Q&A session with Paul Oatt, available here. 

RHE Global  

RHE Global supports environmental health practitioners across all specialisms to work smarter, network and share best practices. Visit RIAMS to stay up to date with the latest environmental health developments and discussions. 

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