Fire Remediation Survey

The Government has issued a letter to all registered providers of social housing requesting they complete and return a fire safety remediation survey by 15 September 2023 providing details on: -

1. all buildings that fall within an RP’s responsibility and which are above 11m; and
2. the steps taken to comply with the Fire Safety Act 2022 (“FSA”).

In our view, DLUCH is seeking confirmation that registered providers have in place a risk priority system (whether using the Governments own tool or a bespoke one) through which external wall fire risk assessments are undertaken on the basis of an assessment of a building’s risk. That of course is an obligation under the FSA. DLUCH also want to ensure that where external wall fire risk assessments do identify life safety risks (whether through PAS9980 or otherwise) those risks are being mitigated and or remediated in a timely way and that a planned approach to achieve this is in place.

For those registered providers with significant property holdings, it is unlikely that all buildings over 11m in height will have had an external wall fire risk assessment undertaken. What is important is that risk prioritisation mechanisms are in place that identify which buildings require external wall fire risk assessments either urgently or as soon as reasonably practicable and that these are being undertaken and actioned by reference to the risk allocated to them.

Further information will be released by the Government ahead of the survey opening on the NROSH+ system in the week commencing 21 August 2023. RPs should now be focusing on ensuring their records are up to date in readiness to be able to present the information as part of these surveys. If you have any questions please contact Rachel Jones, Mark London, Karen Morean, or Kathryn Kligerman.