Fire safety audit show 45% of flats failing checks

Landlords and block managers are facing widespread non-compliance across purpose-built flats, with audit data showing how frequently fire safety standards are being missed.

Figures released from Fire and Rescue Service inspections and analysed by Drax Technology show that 45% of audited buildings failed to meet required standards.

That equates to 1,923 out of 4,257 blocks over four storeys assessed between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

Those inspections cover only 120,000 buildings of this type across England with each audit being recorded as either ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’.

PRS record keeping

The firm’s group product director, David Simpson, said: “Blocked escape routes, failing emergency lighting and faulty alarms are too often pushed down maintenance lists until a fire exposes the devastating consequences.

“Under the Building Safety Act, compliance can no longer be assumed, it must be proven.

“Building managers across BTR, the PRS and social housing, now need clear evidence of what was inspected, when and by whom.”

He added: “Gaps in record-keeping represent a serious operational, financial, and regulatory risk.”

Mr Simpson went on to say that was shocked to learn that 34% of high-rise buildings of 10 storeys or more received an unsatisfactory audit.

He said: “High-rise buildings pose greater risks because firefighter access is more complex, so robust and consistent fire safety measures are critical.

“The industry must step up and do better.”

Responsible person for compliance

Responsibility for fire safety sits with the designated ‘Responsible Person’, who must ensure compliance is maintained.

That includes where structural changes or alterations have taken place and their duty does not stop once an audit is complete.

Enforcement action followed with 20 buildings receiving prohibition notices.

That restricts the use of all or part of the premises due to serious and immediate risks to life, including exposed wiring identified as a fire hazard.

Enforcement notices issued

Drax also says that in six cases, prosecutions were pursued after failures to carry out required remedial work.

Alongside this, 445 enforcement notices were issued, requiring defects to be addressed within set timeframes.

Less serious breaches were handled differently, with Fire and Rescue Services issuing informal notifications where appropriate.

The previous year saw 49% of buildings being marked as ‘unsatisfactory’, according to the same dataset.