Owners of high-rise buildings warned of ‘legal obligations’

Owners of high-rise buildings warned of ‘legal obligations’

0:01 AM, 9th March 2023, About A year ago 2

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A new campaign aimed at owners and managers of high-rise residential buildings in England will highlight their new legal duties.

The new ‘Be Ready’ campaign will call on those responsible for the safety of higher-risk residential buildings to protect residents from unsafe building practices.

The owners have six months from April 2023 to register with the new Building Safety Regulator.

The Building Safety Regulator was established to protect high-rise residents from unsafe building practices in response to the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

‘Landmark moment for building safety’

Under the Building Safety Act, high-rise residential buildings which are 18 metres tall or higher, or at least seven storeys, with two or more residential units are defined as higher risk.

Across England there are 12,500 of these buildings and the new regulator will require all of them to be registered from April 2023.

Peter Baker, the chief inspector of buildings at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: “Our message is clear – industry must raise its standards and residents of high-rise buildings in England must be kept safe.”

He added: “This is a landmark moment for building safety, the information provided through registration will be an invaluable part of our crackdown on unsafe building practices.

“Those who are responsible for high-rise residential buildings must register; failure to do so will be against the law.”

‘Lay the foundation for a world-leading building safety regime’

Building registration is a major step in a package of measures to ensure high-rise residential buildings are safe for residents.

Registering buildings will now be a legal requirement and owners and managers who fail to comply by October 2023 will be investigated and may face prosecution.

Sarah Albon, the HSE’s chief executive, said: “This registration process is an important step towards building a safer future for residents of high-rise buildings. We want it to be clear where responsibility for safety in these buildings lies.

“As the Building Safety Regulator, we will draw from our experience to provide guidance and oversight for the industry and lay the foundation for a world-leading building safety regime, which is a part of our mission to protect people and places.”


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Comments

Paul Essex

17:30 PM, 9th March 2023, About A year ago

This will cause problems for RTM and share of freehold situations. Can you imagine you are suddenly nominated to be 'responsible' for the whole block when you thought you were just involved in a management panel to keep the lift working and the roof watertight.

Mervin SX

23:14 PM, 21st March 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 09/03/2023 - 17:30
Paul, not necessarily!

RMC, RTM companies and management companies are already responsible for all aspects of health and safety within the building.

Yes, the new legislation does add a degree of further work, but it should be welcomed.

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