With Renters’ Rights Act finally becoming law, HMO landlords are being urged to act swiftly after research revealed that more than 2,300 HMOs in England contain a Category 1 hazard according to Inventory Base.
Their analysis of government data reveals that there are currently 2,334 HMOs in England with a Category 1 hazard, which equates to 1.8% of England’s total HMO stock, which stands at 131,061 properties.
Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base, said: “Category 1 hazards aren’t technicalities - they’re life-threatening. Every faulty wire, every structural weakness, every unchecked fire risk represents a potential tragedy. The fact that thousands of HMOs are still unsafe shows how far we are from making rented housing genuinely fit for purpose. For too long, weak enforcement has let hazards fester. Responsible landlords are held back by those who don’t play by the rules - and tenants are the ones who suffer.
“The Renters’ Rights Act draws a line. It finally gives councils the power to act - and landlords the push to fix what’s broken.”
On a regional level, Yorkshire & Humber has the highest proportion of affected properties, with 3.2% of the region’s HMOs containing a Category 1 hazard. This is followed by London at 2.7% and the South East at 2.1%, both above the national average.
