How did it all start? Resco co-founders discuss 20 years in business

Making your properties safe, healthy, and comfortable isn’t just about being a responsible landlord. It’s a legal requirement under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act, in effect since 2019 in the UK. Failing to meet these standards can lead to legal claims, compensation payouts, or even forced repairs ordered by the court.

That’s why many landlords now turn to digital tools like Resco Inspections+ Property, which help them stay compliant, document every step, and resolve issues faster and before they escalate into costly problems.

In this guide, we’ll break down what the FFHH Act requires, how to avoid the most common pitfalls, and how Resco’s digital inspection platform makes it all easier, faster, and stress-free.

What is the FFHH and why does it matter?

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act (FFHH) requires landlords to keep all rented houses and flats safe, healthy, and secure throughout the tenancy. Failure to meet these standards allows tenants to take legal action, which can force landlords to make repairs or pay compensation.

This legislation, introduced on March 20, 2019 as part of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, was largely driven by safety concerns highlighted after the Grenfell Tower tragedy. It applies to most new and existing tenancies (with certain grace periods and exceptions).

Under an “Implied Covenant,” tenants can file a complaint with local authorities; if the claim is valid, the authorities can escalate it to court. This ensures that serious hazards—ranging from structural instability to lack of fire safety are promptly addressed.

What defines uninhabitable living conditions under the FFHH Act?

The specific safety and health criteria used to evaluate housing conditions under the FFHH Act are defined by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). This framework outlines 29 potential hazards that inspectors and courts may consider when assessing whether a property is fit for habitation.

1. Food safety

Food safety problems include tenants’ difficulties while storing, preparing, or cooking food. The issues can be caused by a damaged sink that restricts proper cleaning or a humid environment that can cause fungal, mould, or mildew growth.

2. Water supply

It involves any restriction in the consistent water supply that may affect the cleaning, cooking, washing, drinking, or sanitation process. The issue may be caused by a faulty pipeline or any problem with the storage tanks.

3. Domestic hygiene, pests, and refuse (including all disposal of household and water waste)

The section addresses any unhygienic circumstances that can cause infection to the habitants. The problem may arise due to inadequate use of insecticides or pest control spray, potential entry of rodents or insect, damaged brickwork, or broken windows.

4. Crowding and space

The crowding and space issue involves the insufficient provision of area for personal space, which primarily directs toward structural and design flaws. A lack of space in crowded conditions or public gatherings also comes under this section.

5. Noise

Unnecessary noise from the environment is a threat to mental health. Every improper measure for sound insulation from neighbours or surroundings, which can cause inconvenience is subjected to this category.

6. Excess cold

These are any threats to physical or mental health when the temperature falls below a comfortable level. It can be caused by any seasonal change, calamity, poor insulation, or absence of an operative heating system.

7. Excess heat

There can be a threat to physical or mental health when the temperature goes above a comfortable level. The issue can arise due to poor ventilation, improper cooling system, too many south-facing windows, or insufficient measures to address hot weather.

8. Damp & mould growth

Issues like mould, mildew, fungal growth, or dust mites due to dampness or humidity. These biological intruders can cause infection and health complications in the inhabitants. Their growth can result from poor ventilation or inadequate conditions to control humidity.

9. Biocides

It involves threats to residents’ health by chemicals to treat fungus or mould. It can be caused by inhaling, swallowing, or skin contact with the chemicals.

10. Asbestos and manufactured mineral fibers

Issues arising from airborne Asbestos and Manufactured Mineral Fibers. The materials were used as the coating and insulation of buildings during the time period of 1945-1980. Any complication from exposure to these fibers falls under this category.

11. Lead

The lead sources in housing are paints, water pipes, or industries near the residential area. Lead traces can also affect tenants living near a busy road, with the traffic exhausting smoke of leaded petrol. Problems from lead arise by inhalation of its fumes as it is toxic to humans.

12. Fuel combustion products

Fuel combustion products can cause health issues by inhalation of carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and smoke. All these products are toxic and life-threatening. The causes for their emission are partial combustion of fuel, gas, oil, and solid fuels.

13. Radon gas radiation from airborne or water

Radon gas is formed by Uranium’s radioactive decay in rocks and soil. Its trace amount is present airborne or in water. The unit for its measurement is Becquerels per cubic metre (Bqm-3) in air, and the average level in the UK is 20 Bqm-3. Any residence with 100+ Bqm-3 is concerning and hazardous.

14. Uncombusted fuel gas leaks

Any fuel gas emissions from a leaking pipe or junction fall under this section. The threat is hazardous in the form of a leakage in a kitchen appliance like a stove, gas heater, or geyser.

15. Volatile organic compounds

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are typically sublime materials that are gaseous at room temperature, mostly found in newly built homes. Tenants can experience high VOC exposure from paints, glues, plywood, chipboard, solvents, and urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI), which is adverse for health.

16. Potential intruder’s entry

This category addresses the entry of an intruder due to low-security measures, threatening life or possessions. It can happen due to housing location (in a region with a high crime rate), improper security measures, poor conditions of doors/windows, and the absence of alarm systems.

17. Lighting

It includes mental or physical health threats due to insufficient natural or artificial lighting. Inhabitants can face complications like vision issues, mental stress due to strain in eyes, or potential intruder’s entry mentioned above.

18. Personal hygiene, sanitation, and drainage

A lack of facilities that restrict excessive sharing and improper discharge of fluids can be the primary cause.

19. Falls associated with bath and shower

It encounters all the risks and threats to physical health from falling in the bathroom or shower. The fall can be on the same level or from higher ground. Mostly the inappropriate placement of the bathtub or shower in the bathroom can cause inconvenience or hindrance.

20. Danger of falling from stairs and steps

Falling risk of an individual to a surface with a change in the level of more than 300 mm between grounds. Any kind of fall from stairs and ramps inside or outside the house is considered under this category.

21. Falling on a flat surface

It involves the risk of falling on the floor, yard, path, walkways, or corridors. This threat is applied to the fall that occurs between grounds with a change of level below 300 mm.

22. The danger of falling from one story to another or ground, like out of windows

It is the risk to physical health or life by falling from a ground more than 300 mm above the landing surface. It contains falling from the window, balcony, or roof inside or outside the building. Falls from stairs, steps, ramps, or ladders don’t count under this section.

23. Structural collapse & unstable housing elements

The collapse probability of the entire building or a part of it is considered as a potential risk to life. It can be due to improper fixation, repair, or mild natural calamity.

24. Physical strain while working on amenities

These are the physical strain due to different operations regarding the house’s functionality. The strains can occur while working on heavy doors, poorly sliding windows, or moving any other residence amenities.

25. Fire and fire safety

It regards any threats of life by (accidental) fires or smoke. The uncontrolled fire caused by the ignition of the fuel, solid fuel, in the kitchen or by a short circuit in any electrical appliance is counted in this section.

26. Explosions

The risk of life due to an explosion or debris created by it. In other words, any injury or death by partial or entire building collapse due to the explosion is also addressed here.

27. Electrical hazards

The issues may occur due to electrical shock or burns by an electrical appliance. However, the burning due to flames created from an electrical failure is not considered under this category.

28. Hot surfaces & materials

These are the problems from hot surfaces and materials that can cause burns, scalds, or bruises. They can be caused by skin contact with flames or hot materials like solids, water or non-water-based liquids, or vapours.

29. Collision & entrapment

It involves threats of trapping a body part(s) in any part of the house, such as doors or windows. It also contains an injury by potential collision with any feature, like doors, windows, walls, low ceilings, or other surfaces.

How to use the Homes Act?

It’s important for landlords to understand what steps a tenant may take if serious issues arise. If any of the mentioned issues are present, tenants should immediately notify their landlord in writing (via text, email, or letter). Keeping a documented record ensures proof of notification, which can be crucial if the issue escalates.

Once notified, the landlord becomes legally responsible for rectifying the situation promptly. If the landlord does not address the issue adequately, tenants can escalate their complaint to local authorities or initiate legal action through the court system.

If tenants decide to proceed to court, they should thoroughly review the relevant guidelines before applying. The N1 Form is suitable for smaller claims, but larger claims may require additional details and evidence. If tenants are unsure about the strength of their evidence, they should first consult their local council’s environmental health department for advice and support.

These documents must be submitted along with the N1 Form and three copies for the local county court. Once submitted, tenants will receive documentation and the hearing date, a copy of which must also be sent to the landlord.

Proactive property management is crucial to preventing disputes and maintaining compliance with the FFHH Act. Regular inspections, timely documentation, and clear communication are essential.

Tip: Digital inspection tools such as Resco Inspections+ Property can streamline this process. These platforms offer standardized checklists and real-time reporting, simplifying maintenance tracking and effective property management.

What can happen in court?

The court will analyze both situations and may order the landlord to fix the issue immediately. Moreover, the court can also order them to pay you the compensation for your difficulty, the value of which entirely depends on judges or jury analysis. It can even order the landlord to partially or completely pay your legal costs. If the landlord evicts you, contact your local council immediately.

If you win the case, the court will order your landlord to perform either one or both of the below situations:

But if you lose the case, you need to pay some cost. In that case, talk to your solicitor or local council.

How can landlords make sure they comply with the act?

Not much has changed for landlords and property managers. They still need to invest in repairs required by the law.

But the most significant efficiency gains can be achieved in the way property inspections are reported and how they communicate with tenants.

For companies managing several properties, it is beneficial to standardize the whole process of inspecting, reporting, and contract signing. Thanks to standardization, landlords can prevent mistakes that may occur at any stage of a tenancy.

For example, if the landlord doesn’t use a checklist during a move-in & move-out inspection, it is easy to forget to check all the necessary inventory. Later, this can lead to an argument with the tenant about the original state of an item. That’s why it’s also beneficial to keep photo-documentation of a flat or house before a new tenant moves in.

As a lot of paperwork and documentation is required when renting out a property, it’s safer to standardize checklists and procedures at the very beginning to ensure compliance across the board.

What are landlord requirements?

Along with the 29 circumstances mentioned earlier, the landlord also has to fulfil a few requirements given below:

Property management checklists

Landlords have long relied on paper checklists for property inspections and maintenance reporting—but today’s digital solutions are transforming the way properties are managed. Digital inspections make it easier to store documentation, capture photos, and instantly share reports with tenants, all while ensuring your checklists are always up to date with current regulations.

For a streamlined approach, consider downloading our free Property Inspection Checklist for routine move-in/move-out assessments, or the Property Management Checklist for ongoing safety and compliance tracking. With advanced features such as smart questions, conditional formatting, and CRM integrations, digital platforms like Resco Inspections+ Property help you manage everything from general property condition assessments to specialized safety audits.

Additional tips for landlords

Thorough Inspections: Conduct comprehensive checks for any flaws, technical or electrical failures, or potential hazards before a tenant moves in.

Prompt Responses: Address any reported issues immediately and keep a detailed record of all maintenance work.

Regular Analysis: Periodically re-inspect the property and update documentation to ensure ongoing compliance.

Advance Communication: Always notify tenants in advance of any inspections or repairs.

Document Everything: Retain copies of maintenance invoices, repair records, and tenant communications to safeguard against future disputes.

Fitness for Human Habitation (FFHH) act summary

The FFHH Act has been in force since 2019 and its benefits to tenant rights and safety standards are already evident. Rather than being a burdensome regulation, it’s a catalyst for elevating industry standards. Digitalization not only streamlines compliance but also reduces disputes through improved reporting, standardized checklists, and effective online communication.

Take the first step towards digital transformation in property management by using our free predefined templates, especially our Property Management Checklist, which ensure every detail is captured accurately. Don’t leave compliance to chance and protect your properties and tenants with Resco Inspections+ Property. Start your free 30-day trial today and experience the future of property management.

For one final nod to our 20th birthday, we sat down with Resco’s 3 co-founders – Radomir Vozar, Marcel Saffa and Eduard Kirchner (pictured above, left to right) – to ask them what they’ve learned over the last two decades in business and what are their expectations for the future.
On the market for 20 years, Resco is an established brand with quite a history. But why did you decide to start your own business?

Radomir Vozar: To put it lightly – we wanted to build a successful company and make a fortune And nobody was really offering mobile software back then.

Eduard Kirchner: For me, it was a natural way of realizing my ambition as a young man, shortly after university. We chose software because all three of us had an IT background from our studies and I still see software and technology as my hobby. And why mobility? At the end of ’90s, the first PDA devices were making their way to the market and we’d seen incredible opportunities in this area.

Marcel Saffa: And it was also about building a business with fellow friends from college.

What was the original focus of the company, back in 1999?

EK: The very first idea we had, was custom development of mobile software and to use the internet for distribution. Then it morphed into various mobile applications for end users. And after a couple of years, we also started to create app development tools for enterprise customers.

MS: At the time, we’d seen the potential of mobile devices, but they were lacking suitable software. We’d created the first versions of Resco File Explorer and Resco Keyboard apps and we were looking for ways to get them to potential customers. We wanted to offer our solutions globally, so in our first efforts, we utilized external portals offering shareware software.

The first breakthrough came after almost a year – when Windows Mobile was released and Compaq introduced iPaq pocket PCs. They became incredibly popular and we were one of the few companies that offered software for it. That enabled us to acquire our first customers.

But probably the most important turn of events in those early days came just a few months later. We were featured on Handango – one of the very first online software stores to sell mobile apps for personal digital assistants and smartphones. This collaboration successfully lasted almost 8 years. We’ve gained experience on how to present, market and sell our solutions on a global scale, plus it brought us our first opportunities on the American market.

And even though in the early days we only had the end user applications, we soon added games, developer tools, and started developing for PalmOS as well. Especially the developer tools have later set the direction towards enterprise mobility.

RV: You could say that in the early days, as a three-man operation, we tried everything we could – creating mobile software for quite different areas. In the end, market development showed us what was worth focusing on going forward.

Which factors have had the greatest impact on how the company has evolved over the years?

MS: As is the case in similar situations, many changes have been determined by the market. For example, the average cost per app has changed significantly with the arrival of iOS devices in 2007. While apps for Windows Mobile devices cost an average of $15, the iOS app price was $1. Also, Windows Mobile device sales have declined significantly and so has dipped interest in our consumer software. Around this time the company truly started to focus on enterprise mobility for iOS and Android.

RV: But this transformation wouldn’t be possible without the entire team working at Resco by then.

EK: Precisely – the amazingly talented people, flexibility and vision are what allowed the company to grow and adapt. Even to most challenging situations, such as the revolutionary changes in the world of mobile technology, the events of September 11, or the global economic crisis in 2008-2009.

When did you realize that your products have worldwide potential?

RV: Already during that very first year of the company.

EK: Quite early as well. The Internet as a communication tool and a platform combined with the rise of mobility allowed to envision numerous intriguing opportunities.

MS: For me, there were several moments at different stages. Both applications and development tools have gradually climbed to the top of the sales charts. We have won several awards from various tech media around the world, and even from Microsoft. In the CRM era, we communicated more intensively with partners and customers to obtain invaluable feedback. It enabled us to create products that appeal to large globally-known companies. All of this indicates that Resco’s enterprise mobile solutions really have extensive potential.

Which Resco achievement are you most proud of?

RV: For me, it’s the team of people that works here and the family-like atmosphere they create in the company every day.

EK: And with that come both the small victories and milestones we have achieved as a result. I firmly believe that we’ll keep tackling challenges that will make us proud in the future. For example, in the area of corporate social responsibility, or like our assistance to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

MS: Resco is celebrating 20 years, during which it achieved a lot of success and also experienced a few challenging moments as well. But I’m also most proud of the fact that Resco has become an environment which has brought together many extremely clever and creative people. That’s what makes Resco unique. And thanks to this immense potential, I believe Resco is here to stay for at least another 20 years.

What is the most significant experience/knowledge that these 20 years of business brought you?

MS: That business is not an easy thing at all, and without smart and creative collaborators, no success can be achieved.

RV: And that regardless of where you come from, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome.

EK: Overall, 20 years in business brings a lot of various experiences. But if I were to highlight just one thing, it would be the importance of surrounding yourself with people who have both exceptional personal and professional values and qualities. People you can learn from and who create the core values of the company.

In your opinion, what will be the next technological game-changer with the potential to radically change both consumer and business experiences?

EK: From my point of view, it looks like the next “big thing” will be artificial intelligence.

RV: In business, the ever-expanding automation – robots will replace people for most of the mundane work assignments. In the consumer area, I’m afraid sometimes we are already too much like robots when people are not interested to form their own opinions and experiences.

MS: The computing performance has increased rapidly over the last 20 years. The power of today’s devices allows many tasks to be solved automatically by a computer and not human intelligence. And even though AI is still in its infancy, we can already quite successfully replace humans in text, speech and image recognition processes.

There have also already been quite successful experiments with autonomous control. In conjunction with IoT and 5G technologies, automated intelligent operations and services will be created on home, enterprise, or city levels. The mobile phone, as a device that is always at hand, will monitor and manage these solutions. The result will be new industries and better services for both customers and businesses.

What was your first mobile device and what device do you use the most today? What do you think will be used 20 years from now?

RV: The first one I don’t remember. Currently, I’m mostly using a Samsung smartphone. And recently, I also find myself using my Garmin smartwatch ever more often.

EK: An Ericsson GA628 mobile phone and Casio Cassiopeia PDA were my very first mobile devices. These days I’m mostly using my iPhone X.

MS: I think my first phone was a Nokia 3310 – no Internet and the only game was “Snake” Today it’s mostly my iPhone, which largely replaced the role of a personal computer.

The future is unpredictable, but some suggest that around the year 2040, the smartphone will be an inconspicuous device with a holographic projection screen. It will most likely use cloud storage and external data centers. Which means it will be permanently connected to the network. And since I’m an optimist, I believe it will be an intelligent guide, helping us navigate a vast array of information.