Dangerous UK housing is a major health and safety hazard

Dangerous UK housing could cost up to £52 billion to repair, according to research by SearchFlow.

More than one in five homes (21%) are believed to be affected by Category 1 Hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, which include death, lung cancer, loss of consciousness, loss of limbs, burn injuries, eye disorders, heart attack, and poisoning. Under the 2004 Housing Act, dangerous UK housing would need to be repaired or the owners could face prosecution, as local authorities are obligated to intervene, either deeming the property to be vacated or repaired immediately.

The English Housing Survey also estimated that 1.9 million houses have unsafe stairs.

Cheif executive officer of SearchFlow Stuart Peace said: “Many homeowners are unaware they live with serious hazards every day.When private dwellings are assessed by local authorities, there’s a one in five chance there will be a hazard present which requires immediate attention.This is a cost most property owners don’t factor into their plans and can therefore prove very hard to deal with.If you don’t make the required repairs, even if you can’t afford to, local authorities have the power to issue prohibition orders, which mean you aren’t legally allowed to live there any longer. In this situation, the only option for the owner may be to sell at a knockdown price.”