Building and Fire Safety - important legislation

[This page is currently a ‘work in progress’ - please revisit to see amendments]

Below we list some of the recent legislation that will have a significant impact on residents in high-rise buildings. The legislative changes are extensive and complex - and way beyond our ability to advise on the implications for leaseholders. We therefore have included links to websites where you can find more information, and recommend that you seek legal advice if required.

Building Safety Act 2022

Passed in response to findings following the Grenfell Tower disaster that claimed the lives of 72 people, the BS Act 2022 is intended to enhance building safety standards, ensure residents are protected and that buildings meet rigorous safety requirements. It is an extensive and complex piece of legislation impacting leaseholders directly in a number of areas, and particularly in respect of responsibility for costs associated with remediating ‘relevant defects’ as defined by the Act, which includes cladding and other building fire safety elements.

Leaseholder protections in the BS Act vary according to factors such as the value and location of your flat and whether you are a 'qualifying’ or ‘non-qualifying’ leaseholder.

It’s important you find out more and understand what if anything you may need to do, eg, to protect yourself against possible costs of remediation and ensure that nothing that you do in your flat causes a breach in fire safety regulations. We suggest in the first instance checking out the LEASE Advisory Service website. LEASE is a free service for leaseholders and you can ask them for specific advice if it is not readily available on the website. They will require a copy of your lease in order to address your query (the lease is always the starting point).

Other websites include Government websites and advice notes including: