Fitness for human habitation
The Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2023, published by the Welsh Government in October 2023, states in relation to fitness for human habitation (FFHH) requirements:
Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, landlords (private and social sectors) must ensure that the dwelling is FFHH on the date of occupation by tenant/s, and throughout the term of the occupation contract (tenancy agreement). Landlords are also required to keep the dwelling in good repair, including the structure and exterior of the dwelling as well as the service installations. The FFHH requirements under the 2016 Act and associated regulations include reference to the 29 prescribed hazards (matters and circumstances) set out in Schedule 1 of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (Wales) Regulations 2006. The FFHH obligation provides a remedy for contract holders to address concerns regarding the quality of their accommodation that fall outside the landlord’s repairing obligations. It is for the courts to determine whether a dwelling is FFHH. The Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2021 may result in case law that modifies the application of the HHSRS. Landlords should ensure their interpretation of the application of the HHSRS is up to date with any such case law.
In addition to the Housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS), landlords will be required to attain to specific requirements for the installation of smoke alarms,carbon monoxide detectors and electrical safety testing for the purposes of satisfying FFHH obligations.
See also: Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Carbon monoxide detector.
- Converting commercial offices to residential accommodation.
- Electrical safety.
- Electrical safety in the private rented sector.
- Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
- House in multiple occupation.
- Landlord.
- Landlord and Tenant Act.
- Property disrepair and landlord liabilities.
- Schedule of condition of property.
- Tenant.
Featured articles and news
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.