Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance exists to help ensure that building managers do not rely on welfare checks, curtain‑management or the provision of fans as substitutes for addressing underlying building performance or overheating issues in specialist retirement housing.

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is used to assess health and safety hazards in homes, including excess heat. The HHSRS evaluates the potential risk of harm to an occupier and rates the seriousness of any hazard identified.

My Department recently reviewed the HHSRS, publishing new statutory operating and enforcement guidance, a new suite of illustrated case studies, and new baseline indicators for ensuring safety against each hazard.

Building managers can use this guidance for advice on preventative measures, relevant matters, and baseline indicators for hazardous excess heat in any home, including retirement housing. The guidance covers structural issues and defects and can be found on gov.uk here.