Yorkshire & Humber has the highest proportion of HMOs with Category 1 hazards, accounting for 3.2% of the region’s stock.
This compares to 1.8% across England as a whole, analysis of government data from software company Inventory Base found.
Category 1 hazards mean fire risks, severe structural damage, excess cold, and electrical faults, all of which have the potential to cause death, permanent paralysis, or serious injury.
Now the Renters’ Rights Act has finally become law, local authorities have more power to crack down on serious hazards.
Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, operations director at Inventory Base, said: “Category 1 hazards aren’t technicalities – they’re life-threatening. Every faulty wire, every structural weakness, every unchecked fire risk represents a potential tragedy.
“The fact that thousands of HMOs are still unsafe shows how far we are from making rented housing genuinely fit for purpose.
“For too long, weak enforcement has let hazards fester. Responsible landlords are held back by those who don’t play by the rules – and tenants are the ones who suffer.
“The Renters’ Rights Act draws a line. It finally gives councils the power to act – and landlords the push to fix what’s broken.”
Other regions with common issues with HMOs are London (2.7%) and the South East (2.1%).
While there’s still work to do, the quality of properties seems to have improved. The overall number of HMOs with Category 1 hazards has fallen by -18.8% across England between 2022/23 and 2023/24.
However this hides regional divides, as the South West has seen an annual reduction of -64.4%, while in the North East the number of HMOs with Category 1 hazards has increased by 130% year-on-year.