Regulator of Social Housing publishes latest fire safety remediation report

All social landlords are required to submit quarterly data to the Regulator of Social Housing and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the fire safety remediation of relevant buildings for which they are responsible.

Fire risk assessments had been undertaken at 99% of the 17,457 relevant buildings reported, while 11% were found to have a life-critical fire safety defect relating to the external wall system. The majority of relevant buildings (88% of them, in fact) were found to have no life-critical fire safety defects.

Life-critical fire safety defects 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.

Further, 11% of the 1,932 affected buildings are due to have remedial work completed within the next six months, while works on 84% of the buildings involved are expected to be completed in the next five years.

Some landlords with multiple affected buildings have indicated that they are now prioritising works on higher-risk buildings, which can be more complex and take longer to remediate. As such, landlords have a duty to put interim measures in place in order to ensure the safety of tenants until such time that works are fully completed.

The Regulator of Social Housing will continue to monitor the performance of landlords in remediating 11 metre-plus buildings and the progress they are making against their plans.

Social landlords must have robust systems and processes in place on fire safety and its management, underpinned by accurate and up-to-date data. This is a key aspect of landlords ensuring that tenants are safe in their homes.

Fundamental responsibility  

Will Perry, director of strategy at the Regulator of Social Housing, explained: “This quarterly survey is an important tool in helping us to monitor the progress being made by the sector on remediating fire safety defects. Fire safety is a fundamental responsibility. We expect all landlords to take prompt and effective action such that tenants can feel safe in their homes.”

Perry continued: “This includes putting mitigating measures in place to protect tenants from any risks in the interim period before works are complete. Boards and councillors have a duty to ensure these plans are delivered.”

In conclusion, Perry noted: “Our ongoing regulation, including a programme of inspections and responsive engagement, helps us to check that landlords are meeting the outcomes of our standards, including those relating to fire safety.”

The data referenced was reported in the Q1 2024-2025 survey, which ran from 21 June through to 19 July with data being reported as at 30 June. 29% (ie 431) of landlords reported being responsible for at least one relevant building in this quarter. The majority of these were large landlords (ie those with 1,000 or more units under their charge).  

Work had completed (and been signed-off by Building Control) on 51 (2.6%) of buildings, which are waiting for a follow-up fire risk assessment. Work has already started (or is otherwise complete) on more than one-third of affected buildings. However, remediation plans were missing or unclear for 535 buildings, which is equivalent to over 25%.

Previously, landlords have said that this is due to a range of factors including the need to navigate complex legal arrangements with freeholders and leaseholders, difficulties in sourcing contractors and also supply chain delays.

*Access the Regulator of Social Housing’s report entitled ‘Fire Safety Remediation in Social Housing in England 2024-2025: Quarter 1’ online