Second fire safety remediation report for English social housing published

All social landlords are required to submit quarterly data to the Regulator of Social Housing and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities concerning the fire safety remediation of relevant buildings for which they are ultimately responsible.

In addition, landlords were asked to submit fire safety remediation data at an individual building level for detailed assessment by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The survey opened on 1 December last year and closed on 31 December, with data reported as of 30 November. Around 30% of all landlords for whom the Regulator of Social Housing holds data identified themselves as being responsible for at least one building of 11 metres tall or higher.

Positively, the results show that fire risk assessments have been undertaken on circa 98% of all buildings reported, while the majority of remaining buildings will be subject to such a process in the next nine months.

Fire safety defects

Landlords also reported that remediation work is complete – or otherwise due to be completed – for the majority of buildings with external wall system-related ‘life-critical’ fire safety defects by September 2028.

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 the external wall construction or a fire risk assessment (or equivalent) undertaken to accepted industry standards.

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 outlined plans.

Will Perry, director of strategy at the Regulator for Social Housing, explained: “Landlords must take timely action to remediate fire defects in the buildings for which they are responsible so that tenants are safe – and, what’s more, can feel safe – in their homes. It’s for Boards and councillors to ensure these plans are delivered. They must take action to mitigate risks to tenants. We will continue to engage with landlords through our ongoing regulation, including the new programme of inspections beginning from April this year.”