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Why landlords and agents commission an assessment
Property problems are easier to deal with before they become complaints, enforcement issues or urgent remedial works.
Sunderland Landlord Compliance coordinates comprehensive independent HHSRS property assessments through suitably experienced housing professionals. The assessment applies the revised HHSRS framework, in force from 23 June 2026 to identify potential housing hazards, property deficiencies and recommended actions.
The result is a structured professional report that helps landlords, agents and property professionals understand the condition of the property, the seriousness of any identified risks and what should happen next.
The point of the exercise is to be proactive rather than reactive. A good assessment tells you what is wrong, how serious it is, what action is required, which specialists may be needed, what should be prioritised and what happens next.
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The revised HHSRS framework, in force from 23 June 2026
HHSRS is the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. It is used to assess potential risks to the health and safety of occupiers arising from deficiencies in residential property, rather than simply listing cosmetic disrepair.
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 came into force on 23 June 2026. The number of assessed hazards reduced from 29 to 21, the A to J banding was replaced with three bands of High, Medium and Low, and the harm classes were renamed from Class I to IV to Extreme, Severe, Serious and Moderate. The new rules apply to inspections commenced on or after 22 June 2026. Assessments continue to consider the likelihood of harm occurring and the potential severity of the outcome.
Local authorities use HHSRS as part of housing standards and enforcement activity. Private landlords, letting agents and property professionals can also commission an independent assessment proactively, for their own understanding and planning. An independent report is a professional opinion. It is not a council enforcement decision, and Sunderland Landlord Compliance is not a local authority or an enforcement body.
- Amendment Regulations 2026 in force from 23 June 2026
- 21 assessed hazards, reduced from 29
- A to J banding replaced with High, Medium and Low bands
- Harm classes renamed to Extreme, Severe, Serious and Moderate
- Applies to inspections commenced on or after 22 June 2026
- Likelihood of harm and severity of outcome both considered
- Assessed by experienced independent housing professionals
- Some assessors hold local-authority housing standards experience
- Independent professional opinion, not an enforcement decision
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What the assessment includes
Scope is confirmed in writing before the visit. Depending on the property and the reason for instruction, the assessment may include:
- Whole-property visual inspection
- Internal and external inspection where accessible
- Assessment under the revised HHSRS framework, in force from 23 June 2026
- Hazard banding review across High, Medium and Low
- Identification of visible housing disrepair and deficiencies
- Room-by-room findings
- Photographic evidence
- Damp and humidity readings where appropriate
- Review of ventilation and thermal conditions where relevant
- Identification of defects that may contribute to housing hazards
- HHSRS scoring where applicable
- Written conclusions
- Prioritised remedial recommendations
- Identification of specialist follow-on inspections
- Final professional report
- Clear limitations where areas cannot be accessed or tested
Important
This page is published for general awareness and education. It is not legal advice and does not replace formal advice from a solicitor, surveyor or your local authority. Sunderland Landlord Compliance is a compliance coordination service and does not act as a legal adviser, local authority, enforcement body, surveyor, solicitor or housing inspector. SLC does not guarantee compliance.
An assessment does not automatically include destructive testing, electrical testing, gas testing, structural calculations or specialist laboratory testing. Where further investigation is required, it is recommended within the report and can be quoted separately.
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What you receive
This is a substantial professional assessment, not a short checklist inspection. The written report you receive may contain:
- Property and inspection details
- Property construction and condition information
- HHSRS background and the revised 2026 framework
- Room-by-room findings
- Identified deficiencies
- High, Medium and Low hazard banding findings where applicable
- HHSRS scoring where appropriate
- Photographic evidence
- Conclusions and summary
- Recommended remedial works
- Priority actions
- Additional compliance observations where relevant
- Inspection limitations
- Inspector qualifications and professional details
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One point of contact from enquiry to report
Sunderland Landlord Compliance is not a directory and not a lead-generation service. We manage the whole process and stay accountable for the delivery.
You do not need to know which specialist you need. Tell us the problem or the requirement and we will help establish the right route.
- We review the initial requirement
- We confirm the appropriate assessment scope
- We issue the quotation
- We take payment
- We allocate a suitable professional
- We coordinate access and appointment arrangements
- We manage communication throughout
- We receive the completed report
- We review the delivery for completeness and correct details
- We return the documentation to you
- We can coordinate follow-on inspections or remedial works
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Quality control on every report
Reports are not sent straight from the assessor to you. The assessor submits the report to Sunderland Landlord Compliance, we check it for completeness and for correct customer and property details, and we then release the final report to you.
We do not alter technical conclusions. SLC coordinates and quality-checks delivery. The professional findings remain those of the assessor who attended the property.
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Who this service is for
- Private landlords
- Portfolio landlords
- HMO landlords
- Letting agents
- Property managers
- Property developers
- Refurbishment contractors
- Housing providers
- Property investors
- Businesses carrying out residential refurbishment
- Landlords responding to tenant complaints
- Landlords preparing for a council inspection
- Landlords who want a proactive housing-condition review
- Organisations requiring an independent housing-condition assessment
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Typical reasons for instruction
- Tenant complaints
- Damp or mould concerns
- Property condition disputes
- Pre-letting inspections
- Portfolio reviews
- Pre-refurbishment assessments
- Post-refurbishment reviews
- Housing disrepair concerns
- Preparing before local-authority involvement
- Identifying potential hazards before purchasing or managing a property
- Independent review following concerns raised by another contractor or professional
- Understanding which remedial works should be prioritised
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Assessment is only the first step. We can help coordinate what comes next.
Where the assessment identifies additional requirements, Sunderland Landlord Compliance can coordinate appropriate follow-on services through independently qualified subcontractors and specialists:
- EICR
- Electrical remedial works
- Gas Safety Record / CP12
- Boiler servicing
- Heating investigation
- EPC assessment
- PAT testing
- Damp and ventilation investigation
- Fire risk assessment where applicable
- Structural or building survey referral
- Roofing inspection
- Drainage investigation
- Other specialist property investigations
- Remedial works coordination
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How the quote and payment flow works
- 1You submit an assessment request
- 2SLC reviews the property and the scope
- 3SLC issues a written quotation
- 4You accept the quotation
- 5Payment in full is required
- 6The inspection date is secured
- 7SLC allocates the surveyor
- 8Site attendance is completed
- 9The report is produced
- 10SLC reviews the report and releases it to you
- 11Any follow-on actions are quoted separately
Quotation acceptance and payment in full are required before an inspection date can be secured or confirmed. Appointment availability remains subject to surveyor availability at the time payment is received.
HHSRS assessments are quoted individually based on property type, size, location and required scope.
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Coverage
Assessments are coordinated across the standard SLC service areas: Sunderland, Washington, Houghton-le-Spring, Seaham, Gateshead, Newcastle, South Shields, Durham, Hartlepool and Bishop Auckland.
Wider North East and UK coverage may be available for specialist assessments by quotation.
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SLC does more than arrange certificates
From routine certificates to complex property compliance requirements, Sunderland Landlord Compliance helps identify the right solution, coordinate the appropriate specialist and manage the process through to completion.
One point of contact. The right specialist. Clear next steps. Not sure what inspection you need? Tell us what is happening at the property and we will help establish the right next step. Complex enquiries are welcome.
Background reading is available in our HHSRS 2026 framework guide for landlords, alongside the wider Knowledge Centre.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Areas covered
Serving Sunderland and the wider North East
Sunderland Landlord Compliance supports landlords, letting agents, homeowners and property managers across the North East, including:
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