Damp and Mould Growth: Health threat from dust mites, mould or fungal growths caused by dampness and/or high humidity. It includes threats to mental health and social wellbeing from living with damp, damp staining and/or mould growth.

Excess cold: Most vulnerable 65 plus, from sub-optimal indoor temperatures.

Excess heat: Most vulnerable 65 plus, from excessive high indoor temperatures

Asbestos (and MMF): Caused by exposure to asbestos fibre and manufactured mineral fibre.

Biocides: Threats to health from those chemicals used to treat timber and mould growth in dwellings. Insecticides and rodentcides to control pest infestations (e.g. cockroaches or rats and mice), these are not considered for the purposes of HHSRS.

Carbon monoxide and fuel combustion products: Hazards due to excess levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and smoke in the dwellings atmosphere. Special consideration should be made to over 65’s.

Lead: Threats to health from the ingestion of lead.

Radiation: This category covers the threats to health from radon gas and its daughters, primarily airborne, but also radon dissolved in water. Whilst rare, leakage from microwave ovens might also be considered. Evidence of health risks from low-level exposure to electro-magnetic fields from phone masts have not, to date, been proven.

Uncombusted fuel gas: The threat of asphyxiation due to fuel gas escaping into the atmosphere within a dwelling.

Volatile organic compounds are a diverse group of organic chemicals which include formaldehyde, that are gaseous at room temperature and are found in a wide variety of materials in the home.

Crowding and space: Health hazards linked to a lack of living space for sleeping and normal family/household life.

Entry by intruders: Problems keeping a dwelling secure against unauthorized entry and the maintenance of defensible space.

Lighting: Threats to physical and mental health linked to inadequate natural and/or artificial light. It includes the psychological effect associated with the view from the dwelling through glazing.

Noise: Threats to physical and mental health caused by noise exposure inside the dwelling and within its curtilage.

Domestic hygiene, pests and refuse: Health hazards due to poor design, layout and construction to the point where the dwelling cannot be readily kept clean and hygienic, access into, and harborage within, the dwelling for pests; and inadequate and unhygienic provision for storing and disposal of household waste.

Food safety: Threats of infection due to inadequate facilities for the storage, preparation and cooking of food.

Personal hygiene, sanitation and drainage: Threats of infection and threats to mental health associated with personal hygiene, including personal washing and clothes washing facilities, sanitation and drainage.

Water supply for domestic purposes: The quality and adequacy of the water supply for drinking and for domestic purposes such as cooking, washing, cleaning and sanitation. Also, threats to health from contamination by bacteria, protozoa, parasites, viruses and chemical pollutants.

Falls associated with baths etc.: Falls associated with a bath or shower facility. Falls on the level: Falls  on any level surface such as floors, yards and paths. Also includes falls associated with trip steps, thresholds or ramps, where the change in level is less than 300mm.

Falls associated with stairs and steps: Falls associated with stairs, steps and ramps where the change in level is greater than 300mm. It includes falls on internal stairs or ramps within the dwelling, internal common stairs or ramps, external steps or ramps within the curtilage of the dwelling, access to the dwelling and to shared facilities or means of escape in case of fire. It also includes falls over stair, step or ramp guarding (Balustrading).

Falls between levels: Falls from one level to another, inside or outside a dwelling,

where the difference in levels is more than 300mm. For example falls out of a window, falls from balconies or landings, falls from accessible roofs, into basement wells and over garden retaining walls.

Electrical hazards: Hazards from  electric shock and electricity burns, including from lightning strikes.

Fire: Threats from uncontrolled fire and associated smoke. It includes injuries from clothing catching alight, apparently common when people attempt to put out a fire. It does not include clothing catching alight from a controlled fire by reaching across a gas flame or an open fire used for space heating.

Hot surfaces and materials: Burns or injuries caused by contact with a hot flame or fire and contact with hot objects or hot non-water based liquids and scalds– injuries caused by contact with hot liquids and vapours. It includes burns caused by clothing catching alight from a controlled fire or flame.

Collision and entrapment: This category may include risk of physical injury from, (a) trapping body parts in architectural features, such as trapping limbs or fingers  in doors or windows or (b) striking (colliding with) objects such as architectural glazing, windows, doors, low ceilings and walls.

Explosion: Threat from blast of an explosion, from debris generated by the blast and from the partial or total collapse of a building as the result of an explosion.

Ergonomics: Threats of physical strain associated with functional space and other features at dwellings

Structural collapse and falling elements: The threat of the dwelling collapsing or of an element or part of the fabric being displaced or falling because of  inadequate fixing or disrepair, or as a result of adverse weather conditions. Structural failure may occur internally or externally.

Following an inspection you must take action on enforcement notices from the council. You also have the right to appeal enforcement notices.  The council can do any of the following if they find a serious hazard: Issue an improvement notice,  fix the hazard themselves and bill you for the cost, stop you or anyone else from using part or all of the property.