Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Gov.UK Housing. Read the original article for full details.
BSR Announces Targeted Changes to Higher-Risk Building Assessments
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has announced plans to update its approach to building assessment certificates (BACs) for higher-risk buildings in England. The new approach will be more proportionate and targeted, with increased support for resident-led principal accountable persons (PAPs), while maintaining high standards of building safety.
The BSR’s foundation plan responds to feedback from PAPs, financial institutions, and other stakeholders. It addresses the implementation of requirements for occupied higher-risk buildings (HRBs) introduced in the Building Safety Act 2022. The plan aims to ensure that legal duties remain in place for over 6,000 PAPs and accountable persons (APs) while the new approach is developed.
Key elements of the plan include applying lessons learned from the BAC regime to improve assessment processes, only calling in new applications when necessary until improved processes are agreed, and prioritising applications already under assessment. The BSR is also exploring options for proportionate, fast-track reassessments for previously refused certificates once standards are met, and providing more targeted support to resident-led PAPs. The plan aims to help protect residents and leaseholders from unnecessary or unexpected costs.
Since the BAC process began in April 2024, the BSR has directed PAPs to apply for certificates for nearly 2,000 buildings, prioritising those with the most significant risks based on factors such as building height, number of apartments, presence of combustible aluminium composite material, and use of large panel system construction methods. The BSR has streamlined processes and increased engagement, but challenges remain. Assessment processing times are currently twice as long as initially expected, and 66% of applications have been refused so far this year. Refusals often result from applications focusing on process compliance rather than effective safety management.
The BSR recognises that many volunteer-led resident management companies, commonhold, and Right to Manage organisations have struggled with the new legal requirements, leading to refusals and unforeseen costs for residents. To address these challenges, the BSR will shift to a more intelligence-led and risk-based approach, concentrating on existing applications and modifying its risk-based strategy. This will include sample interventions based on risk or intelligence and granting smaller, volunteer-run resident management companies more targeted support.
Ongoing duties for PAPs and APs under the Building Safety Act 2022 remain in place, and all must continue to manage their buildings to ensure resident safety from fire spread and structural failure.
Source: Gov.UK Housing