Businesses and multi-residence buildings must now comply with updated fire safety laws

With new laws coming into effect on 1 October, businesses and multi-residence buildings must now comply with updated fire safety laws.

Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 took effect on 1 October 2023, which means that all businesses in England must document their fire risk assessments and fire safety arrangements. The revised legislation also requires that in residential buildings housing two or more domestic premises, residents must receive information about fire risks and the fire safety measures put in place for their protection.

Premises including small shops, take-aways, holiday lets and small blocks of flats are affected by the changes. 

Key points residential and commercial agents should be aware of:
    • All businesses must record a fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements in full – there are no exceptions based on the size or type of business.
    • There are increased requirements for co-operation and co-ordination between Responsible Persons in multi occupied buildings or those where the occupier and owner are not the same person. 
    • In residential buildings with two or more domestic premises residents must be provided with information on the risks from fire and the fire safety measures provided to keep them safe. 

New fire safety guides

The Home Office has published guides, including for small non-domestic premises, small blocks of flats, and small sleeping accommodations, which help anyone who has a legal duty for fire safety in a relevant building. A fire risk assessment 5-step checklist has also been published to help people responsible for the simplest premises complete a fire safety risk assessment.

Fire safety: guidance for those with legal duties – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

FAQs for property agents

Propertymark has distilled the additional measures that have been passed for England that introduce new responsibilities under the Fire Safety Order and expand upon the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 into a FAQ format for members to download.

 

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