LEGAL

Keeping tenants and leaseholders safe – the immediate challenge

The challenge of the new building safety regime will be best met by involving all council departments and by close engagement with tenants and stakeholders, say Ian Doolittle and Rebecca Rees.

Comment pieces like this usually focus on how the building safety regime will change after the Grenfell tragedy. It is true that councils need to monitor the legislative changes. A Bill broadening the Fire Safety Order has just been introduced and a Building Safety Bill, based on the Hackitt report, will be introduced later this year. But the main features are already well known.

The new regime is likely to apply to new (or substantially refurbished) residential buildings over 18 metres / six storeys high, with a roll-out of obligations to other in-scope buildings, i.e. those where people sleep. Responsibility will lie with the ‘duty holder' (during construction or refurbishment) and the ‘accountable person'  (during occupation).  The new Building Safety Regulator will have tough enforcement powers where there is a failure to comply.

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