RSH publishes findings on fire safety remediation in English social housing
The report highlights the responsibility of boards and councillors to understand landlords’ legal obligations in relation to managing the safety of buildings
Today (Thursday 16 November 2023) the Regulator of Social Housing published the findings from a survey on the fire safety of 11 metre plus buildings in the social housing sector.
All social landlords (including housing associations and local authorities) were asked to submit data to RSH and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the fire safety remediation of 11 metre plus buildings for which they are responsible.
The results show:
- Fire risk assessments have been undertaken on 98% of all buildings reported
- The vast majority of social landlords have plans in place to address life critical fire safety defects identified across the relevant buildings
- Remediation work is completed or due to be completed in the next five years for 71% of 11-18 metre buildings and 84% of 18 metre plus buildings assessed as having an external wall system related LCFS defect.
The report highlights the responsibility of boards and councillors to understand landlords’ legal obligations in relation to managing the safety of buildings, seek assurance that they are being met, and address identified issues promptly.
RSH is following up with providers whose returns indicated that they may be an outlier on their progress in assessing or remediating the buildings they are responsible for.
Will Perry, Director of Strategy at RSH, said:
Landlords must understand their buildings, manage them safely, and take timely action to remediate fire and other safety defects so their tenants are safe and can feel safe in their homes.
We will continue to engage with providers to ensure this remains a high priority.
Notes to editors
- The Fire Safety Remediation Survey for 11 metre plus buildings opened to all landlords on 23 August 2023 and closed on 15 September 2023, with data reported as at 31 August 2023.
- The survey required landlords to provide aggregate level information to RSH for all 11 metre plus buildings where they are the responsible entity. In addition, landlords were asked to submit fire safety remediation data at an individual building level for assessment by DLUHC.
- LCFS are defined as defects, shrinkages, faults or other failings in a building that give rise to fire safety risks identified by a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Wall construction or a fire risk assessment (or equivalent) undertaken to industry standards.
- For press office contact details, see our media enquiries page. For general queries, please email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk or call 0300 124 5225.
- RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver and maintain homes of appropriate quality that meet a range of needs. It does this by undertaking robust economic regulation focusing on governance, financial viability and value for money that maintains lender confidence and protects the taxpayer. It also sets consumer standards and may take action if these standards are breached. RSH’s remit on consumer issues is expanding and from April 2024 and it will begin carrying out regulatory inspections of social landlords.