The Home Office recently announced their intention to increase fire safety measures, stating that landlords of HMOs (House in Multiple Occupation) could face unlimited fines if they fail to comply.
The new enhanced procedures will be included in the future Building Safety Bill, which will be enforced in approximately 2022 and will apply explicitly to HMOs and other multi-tenancy premises.
The exact details are yet to be confirmed, but the government affirm that the act will improve the Fire Safety Order by requiring fire assessments to be recorded for each building.
Additionally, the government have verified that the new legislation will:
- Include the refinement of how fire safety information is accessed and preserved throughout the lifetime of a building.
- Better the quality of fire risk assessments and the expertise of those who perform them.
- Enhance communication and the organisation amongst those responsible for implementing fire safety and making it easier to identify who they are.
- Strengthening enforcement action, distributing unlimited fines to those impersonating or obstructing a fire inspector.
- Reinforce guidance in regards to the Fire Safety Order, which makes it easier to hold those who breach compliance in court.
- Improve engagement between Building Control Bodies and Fire Authorities when reviewing building work.
- Instruct all new flats above 11m tall to install information boxes.
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