Local Government Group to draw up new guidance to improve fire safety in blocks of flats

The Local Government Group has been commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to put together new specialist guidance on fire safety for social and private landlords, risk assessors, fire officers and others in the housing sector.

The new guidance will run alongside existing advice, Housing – fire safety: guidance on fire safety provisions in certain types of existing housing, published by LACORS in 2008. As well as dealing with new-build, repair and refurbishment in flats, the new guidance will also tackle issues surrounding vandalism. The new guidelines are expected to be published in July.

Cllr Gary Porter, Chairman of the Local Government Group’s Environment and Housing Programme Board, said:“Clear and comprehensive fire safety guidance can mean the difference between life and death.

“The existing advice covers most types of property very well, but it was never meant for blocks of flats and it’s become apparent some landlords are unsure of their legal responsibilities in such buildings. This was compounded by fire risk assessors being unclear about the level of investigation required when carrying out risk assessments.

“These extra guidelines should resolve these issues and help make sure everyone involved in the housing sector knows exactly what they have to do so residents are made as safe as possible.”

The decision to compile new guidelines follows a Local Government Group conference last month attended by representatives from government, the Tenant Services Authority and social and private landlords.

Housing – fire safety: guidance on fire safety provisions in certain types of existing housing was published in 2008 by Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services, now Local Government Regulation, in partnership with the Chief Fire Officers Association and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. The guidance was designed to help regulators and landlords understand the requirements of the Housing Act 2004 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

For details of the project visit: http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=18308