Welcome to this week’s building safety bulletin. This page outlines some of the significant changes affecting developers, leaseholders, contractors, housing providers, and anyone else interested in the UK’s building safety crisis.
1. Developer remediation contract
Two weeks on from the deadline to sign the government’s remediation contract, committing developers to addressing life-critical fire safety defects associated with buildings 11m+ they have built or refurbished, there are 6 who have yet to sign (Abbey Developments, Avant, Dandara, Emerson Group, Galliard Homes and Rydon Homes). The latest signatories are Lendlease and Inland Homes. If developers want to join the government’s Responsible Actors Scheme, they will need to sign up promptly.
2. Responsible Actors Scheme (RAS)
On Friday, Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, informed the MPs that the much-anticipated ‘key features’ of the Department’s Responsible Actors Scheme have now been published. At this initial stage, it seems that the Responsible Actors Scheme will be open for ‘major housebuilders’ and ‘large developers’ involved in residential property. To join, developers will need to have signed the remediation contract, and the penalties for not holding membership will include planning and building control prohibitions. If legislation is passed by parliament, the Scheme is expected to become active before July.
3. Lee Rowley questioned on building safety by Levelling Up Committee
Last Monday, Lee Rowley, Minister for Local Government and Building Safety, and Richard Goodman, Director General, Building and Greener Buildings, faced questions from the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee on building safety. Mr Rowley told the Committee that the Department’s Recovery Strategy Unit, set up last year and empowered by the Building Safety Act, is currently investigating 19 ‘live inquiries’ involving ‘bad-faith’ actors. He said the unit’s team is building up their capacity, knowledge and experience to expand its operations. The minister was asked about a host of other issues, including the government’s support for local authorities and social housing providers.
4. Bank of England raises interest rates
Last Thursday, the Bank of England raised its base rate by 0.25% to 4.25%, the 11th hike by the central bank in less than two years. The rise in interest rates will inevitably affect victims of the UK’s building safety crisis now looking to secure mortgage lending following the fairly recent decision of major banks such as HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds and Nationwide to start considering applications for properties with plans to remove unsafe cladding.
5. Building Safety Regulator registration
Next month, registrations will open for higher risk buildings (at least 18m tall) with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). In England, the registration period for existing buildings will be open until October. Any new properties completed after this will be added later on. According to the Building Safety Act, where there is more than one ‘accountable persons’ (APs) for a high-rise building, the principal accountable person (PAP) will complete the registration.
