Fitness For Human Habitation (FFHH) and What it Means for You

As you will now be aware, FFHH (Fitness for Human Habitation) is a law that requires landlords to ensure their rental properties are safe and healthy for tenants and visitors.

The FFHH bill was heard on the 26th of October 2018. In short, it is an amendment of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, to require that residential rented accommodation be provided and maintained in a state of fitness for human habitation; to amend the Building Act 1984 to make provision about the liability for works on residential accommodation that do not comply with Building Regulations; and for connected purposes.

A landlord must always keep the dwelling in repair and once aware of an issue this needs to be conducted in a reasonable time and to a reasonable standard. This obligation extends to the structure and exterior of the dwelling (including drains, gutters, and external pipes), and the service installations in the dwelling, such as those: for the supply of water, gas, or electricity, for sanitation, and for space heating or for heating water. The cost of any repairs cannot be placed onto the tenant where the tenant is not liable for the damage.

For rental properties, it is a legal requirement for both the social and private sector to be FFHH.

FFHH can sometimes be confused with HHSRS (Housing, Health, and Safety Rating System. There are 29 Hazard risks listed on the HHSRS and unlike HHSRS, the FFHH obligation does not require a detailed risk assessment to be conducted by a local authority, therefore, and agent or property owner of a qualifying dwelling is required to ensure that the house is “reasonably suitable for occupation” in respect of the following 9 matters:

• Repair (e.g. – building is neglected and in poor condition)
• Stability (e.g. – building is unstable)
• Freedom from damp (e.g. – building has a serious damp issue)
• Internal arrangement (e.g. – unsafe layout)
• Natural lighting (e.g. – insufficient natural lighting throughout the property)
• Ventilation (e.g. – insufficient ventilation throughout the property)
• Water Supply (e.g. – issue with the hot and cold water supply)
• Drainage and sanitary conveniences (e.g. – issue with the drainage of waste / lavatory water)
• Facilities for storing / preparing / cooking of food and disposal of wastewater (e.g. – insufficient space to prepare food or wash-up)

If any one item on the above list fails, this will mean a failure for the whole FFHH assessment on the property.

How proptech can help

Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill, it received Royal Assent on 20 December 2018. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law). Therefore, KPR software launched Willis, which ensures agents are always fully FFHH compliant with automated scheduling and reminders. You can monitor your compliance such as Gas Safety Certificates, EPCs, and EICRs (Electrical Installation Condition Report). Willis will also automatically track your report driven compliance from each midterm that you conduct. Updating and monitoring expiry dates on your smoke alarms, CO detectors, heat detectors, etc. FFHH (Fit for Human Habitation) compliance is monitored and automatically updated every time you synchronise a KPR midterm report. Willis sends tenants automated reminders to diarise, such as property visits, and inventory signing. Meaning you can focus on other important tasks within your agency.

More agents are investing in property habitation software for benefits that go beyond inventory reporting, which can save time and money for all involved and provide confidence that properties are fully FFHH covered – a small price to pay for an invaluable return.

KPR provides habitation software to ensure peace of mind and helps towards the smooth running of a letting agent’s portfolio, and includes:

• Professionally presented information sheets bearing your company branding and offers tenants the tools to ensure to ensure that their upkeep of the property is sufficient.

• Automated scheduling and reminders, such as certificate expiration dates, and testing for smoke detectors and CO monitors, ensuring every detail is covered.

• Offers tenants the ability to conduct their own Midterm report, saving agents time and minimising visits.

• Secure storage for date and time-stamped documentation and certificates

• Simple communication between agent and tenant, all in one place

• Our automation software with reminders ensures that you stay compliant, so you never miss a deadline, and certificate renewals will never be overlooked

• Our software features a tenant portal with exclusive access to direct communication between tenant and the managing agent and swift repairs reporting using a unique QR code for their property.

At KPR we understand the demands placed on agents to stay compliant, and strive to address the issues within the industry, so agents are protected with FFHH throughout the tenancy, without increasing their workload.

We have our own in-house development team with knowledge on modem technology and methodologies, which keep KPR software current, and always focusing on the next level.

If you would like to know what else KPR can do for your business, our helpful and dedicated team will be ready to assist you!

0208 542 2333

hello@kpr.global