Health and Safety Audit Checklist for Property Management
A health and safety audit is a systematic review of an organisation’s health and safety management system, policies, and practices. For property management companies, regular audits help ensure compliance with the wide range of regulations that apply to managed properties, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients, and insurers. Fire safety […]
Accident Reporting and RIDDOR: Property Manager’s Guide
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) require employers, the self-employed, and people in control of premises to report certain workplace incidents to the Health and Safety Executive. For property managers, RIDDOR obligations apply both to their own employees and to incidents occurring in common areas and facilities they manage. Reportable […]
HHSRS: The Housing Health and Safety Rating System Explained
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is the risk-based evaluation tool used by local authorities in England and Wales to assess potential health and safety hazards in residential properties. Introduced by the Housing Act 2004, HHSRS replaced the old Housing Fitness Standard with a more comprehensive, evidence-based approach to evaluating housing conditions. HHSRS […]
Writing an H&S Policy for Property Management Companies
Every employer with five or more employees must have a written health and safety policy under Section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The policy has three parts: a general statement of intent, the organisation section (roles and responsibilities), and the arrangements section (specific procedures and practices). For property management, arrangements […]
COSHH Assessments in Property Management
The COSHH Regulations 2002 require employers to assess and control risks from hazardous substances. For property management, this includes cleaning chemicals, maintenance products, paints, and adhesives. A COSHH assessment should identify hazardous substances, their health effects, who might be exposed, existing controls, and any additional measures needed. Practical steps include: maintaining a substance inventory, obtaining […]