A new campaign by the Building Safety Regulator is urging all high-rise building residents to check if their building is registered
All high-rise building residents in England should be aware of how new Building Safety laws affect them, recommends the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
Every high-rise building (HRB) is now required to have a Principal Accountable Person (PAP), ensuring that those responsible for managing the building’s safety can be held accountable for their legal obligations.
High-rise building residents have more rights and protections than ever before
These laws protect and empower people living in HRBs to report safety concerns, ensuring that their grievances will be taken seriously.
Clear protocols are in place for making a complaint, and residents can raise issues with the PAP for their building.
The enhanced residents’ rights include:
- Assurance that safety risks in their building are being effectively addressed
- Access to ongoing information on what is being done to improve safety in their building
- Empowerment to voice safety concerns, with assurance that their concern will be taken seriously
- Clear, accessible, and easy to understand information regarding safety matters
Philip White, director of Building Safety at the Health and Safety Executive, said: “Residents are at the heart of our regulatory efforts. It’s vital for us to amplify their voices and to recognise the role they play in the safety of their buildings.
“Safety standards in high rise buildings must be assessed and managed by the Principal Accountable Person (PAP). The regulator will review how the building is managed and whether the PAP has complied with their duties.
“Our residents panel members represent the diverse resident community in high-rise buildings. They provide valuable insights based on their real-life experiences of living in a high-rise building. This engagement contributes significantly to our regulatory programme for HRBs.
“The residents’ panel welcomes the new measures empowering high-rise residents. They are encouraged by the assurance that residents can speak up with confidence, knowing that their voices will not only be heard but also that their concerns will be considered fully.”
Marlene Price BEM, a member of the BSR Residents Panel, says: “Everyone should feel safe in their home, including the millions of people who live in high-rise buildings. The Building Safety Regulator is working to make this ambition a reality.”
