The intention of the HHSRS is to ensure that owners maintain their properties in a safe and 'healthy' state, i.e. free from hazards that may affect the occupier's health and or safety. Owners are obliged to comply with the terms of improvement notices or prohibition orders (subject to rights of appeal). If as a landlord you employ an agent, you must ensure the agent is able to arrange necessary work and ensure that adequate funds are available to do this.

If as a landlord you wish to have an independent survey of your property carried out under HHSRS (perhaps in preparation for an appeal against an improvement notice), most private surveyors will be able to provide such a service. It is important to ensure that the surveyor appointed to carry out the survey is fully conversant with the HHSRS as inspections under the system differ significantly from traditional structural surveys. There are a number of independent Environmental Health Officers who will also be able to carry out a survey independently of the local council for the area. To find a surveyor, consult the following:

• Chartered Institute of Environmental Health - Search the consultants directory under 'housing'
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - Search under 'find a surveyor in your area'
• Many other national and local surveying services can readily be found using internet searches.