Managing your portfolio during a heatwave: HHSRS Hazard 3 Excess Heat

While the weather may have cooled down for now, it won’t be too long until we can expect another heatwave. For property managers and landlords, spiking temperatures mean uncomfortable tenants and major compliance risk.  

Excess heat is a Category 1 hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Just like damp or structural defects, local authorities can enforce strict penalties if your properties aren't up to scratch. With summers projected to break records, and our high-density housing stock notorious for trapping heat, managing this risk across your portfolio is essential.  

Here is how Arthur users can stay ahead of the heat, protect their tenants, and keep their portfolios fully compliant.  

What is Excess Heat?

The definition of excess heat depends heavily on the property's environment. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) advises that internal temperatures of 24°C and above are classified as excessive.

Which properties are most at risk?

When reviewing your portfolio on Arthur, pay close attention to your multi-unit blocks and converted flats. These properties are at the highest risk for several reasons:

• Pre-1945 builds: Often suffer from poor insulation.
• High-density blocks: Tower blocks and apartment buildings naturally retain heat due to the of occupants.
• Top-floor and south-facing units: Flats directly underneath an uninsulated roof or those with solely south-facing elevations act like greenhouses during a heatwave.

The health and compliance risks

For vulnerable residents, such as the elderly, the very young, or those with compromised mobility, excess heat can be lethal. It exacerbates cardiovascular and renal issues, and heatwaves have a documented link to increased mortality.

Even for healthy tenants, prolonged exposure leads to dehydration and heat exhaustion. As a property manager, failing to address these risks impacts tenant welfare and leaves you open to council enforcement actions, fines, and reputational damage.

How to mitigate excess heat efficiently

While heavy-duty solutions like retrofitting air conditioning or advanced ventilation systems are highly effective, they can be cost-prohibitive for large portfolios. Property managers should look for cost-effective, scalable interventions:

• Shading and circulation: Installing external awnings or shutters is a quicker, cheaper way to block solar gain. Providing standalone fans for high-risk units is a low-cost method to get air moving.
• Tenant education: Often, the best defence is communication. Send out automated notices via your tenant app reminding residents to close blinds during peak sun hours and use cross-ventilation after dusk when the outside air cools down.
• Targeted placements: Advise vulnerable tenants to utilise cooler, north-facing rooms during peak afternoon heat.

Streamlining HHSRS compliance

Managing 29 different HHSRS hazards across a diverse property portfolio can feel overwhelming, but it is a legal obligation. The key is moving away from reactive maintenance and toward proactive risk management.

Make sure to schedule targeted risk assessments and dispatch preventative maintenance now, before the next heatwave hits.

Final thoughts

As temperatures continue to climb, excess heat can no longer be ignored as a minor seasonal inconvenience. It is a serious, legally binding hazard that requires strategic oversight.

By identifying at-risk properties early, engaging tenants with clear guidance, and tracking your compliance digitally, you can ensure your portfolio remains cool, safe, and fully compliant all summer long.

Bring compliance into your daily workflow. Discover how Arthur unites property data, maintenance scheduling, and HHSRS compliance into a single, seamless operating system. See how it works.