In-occupation regime for occupied higher-risk buildings consultation – member briefing

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is currently consulting on proposals to introduce a new, more stringent regulatory regime for higher-risk buildings, defined for the purpose of the in-occupation phase as a residential building that is 18m or more in height, or has at least seven storeys.

This briefing covers the consultation on the policy proposals for the in-occupation phase for higher-risk buildings in scope of the new, more stringent regime

We have published a separate briefing covering the consultation on the construction phase for buildings in scope of the new regime.

The consultation is split into 12 parts, with each part covering a different aspect of implementing the new regime for occupied higher-risk buildings. These include:

• Registration and certification.
• Accountable person(s).
• Safety case approach (information relating to the assessment and management of building safety risks).
• Mandatory occurrence reporting (proposes that specific people responsible for the safety of higher-risk buildings must capture and report certain fire and structural safety issues called ‘safety occurrences’ to the regulator).
• Residents’ voice and duties on residents.
• Golden thread contents and how this is stored and managed.
• Duties on the accountable person(s) and principal accountable person to share information.
• Appeals and enforcement.
• Key building information (proposed high level information the principal accountable person will need to submit to the regulator about their building).

The NHF will be submitting a sector response to the consultation. To help shape our response we are seeking views from members in response to the questions and proposals outlined in our briefing.

We are asking housing associations to get in touch and share their views by no later than Wednesday 5 October.