HSE calls for high-rise landlords to join residents’ panel

HSE calls for high-rise landlords to join residents’ panel

0:01 AM, 27th March 2025, About 4 weeks ago

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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is calling on landlords to join its HSE residents panel to improve safety in high-rise buildings.

The HSE say landlords play a key role in helping residents feel safe and improve communication around building safety.

The HSE are seeking applications from private landlords who currently let units in high-rise buildings and would like to be considered for membership of the panel.

Landlords are key to knowing and communicating with the residents of the buildings

The panel is formed under the new Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) to advise HSE on matters relating to residents living in high-rise blocks.  The panel can also have landlords as members

Andy McGrory, policy team leader at HSE explains to Property118 the reason for landlords on the panel is two-fold.

He tells Property118: “Landlords are key to knowing and communicating with the residents of the buildings, and there are specific duties on landlords under the BSA.

“We recognise that in a high-rise setting, where units are given over to assured shorthold tenancy or short-term lets, the best way to engage with those residents on matters of building safety is through their landlords.

“Landlords would hopefully agree that the safety of the building and therefore the safety of their tenants is important.”

The HSE highlights that the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 exposed serious failings and reinforced the need for meaningful engagement with residents, adding that the panel discusses cladding and remediation from the resident perspective in its meetings.

Important residents voices are heard

The panel meets virtually, four times a year and is made up of a broad representation of residents from different locations, type of tenancy and other demographics.

The HSE say the panel is a chance for landlords to have their say and shape future policy on building safety.

NRLA member and current member of the residents’ panel Ian Stern said: “It is important that resident voices are heard, their concerns are acted on and their queries responded to.

“Given the numbers of private rental properties in high-rise buildings, landlords are critical to resident engagement, as it is them who have the formal relationship with the tenants who actually live in the buildings!”

For more information, landlords can email irp@hse.gov.uk


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