2021 is seeing the introduction of significant changes to building safety regulations in the UK. In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire of 2017, the government introduced the Building Safety Programme, the goal of which is to oversee building regulation reforms across the country. 

Ever since the tragedy, building regulations overall have been revisited to determine how to avoid a disaster of that magnitude in the future. 2021 promises to be a year that sees many proposed changes come into effect.

What Are the 2021 Building Safety Changes?

 As part of these changes, two new bills have been drafted: the Building Safety Bill and the Fire Safety Bill. Both will alter the building process for new high-rises, requiring that they pass strict safety standards to be certified as safe for residents.

This will not only affect high-rises in the long run, though; regulations across the board are being reconsidered to ensure optimal safety for building residents. But what do these regulatory changes mean for you as a property builder, renovator or potential buyer? 

What is the Building Safety Bill?

The government drafted the Building Safety Bill in July 2020, the aim of which is to reform the regulatory system governing construction permissions and the safety of high-rise residents. Essentially, anyone overseeing the construction or renovation of a new high-rise building will need to prove that the building practices have taken resident safety into account.

The Fire Safety Bill, which was recently passed in parliament, is packaged together with the Building Safety Bill as a means of decreasing the fire risk in buildings with more than one home, as well as introducing infrastructure that mitigates fire damage.

 What do the New Building Safety Regulations Mean for Me?

 The new bills will affect you particularly if you oversee or own property in a high-rise building. However, don’t be surprised if these reforms trickle into building safety across the board as well. The proposed bills will affect the biggest changes to building safety laws for more than 40 years, and they’re essential in ensuring health and safety principles are adhered to.

The new legislation will bring about robust ‘gateways’ for approval before residential development can proceed, according to Pinsent Masons. This will hinge on developments requiring comprehensive approval from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure best practice is being observed.

Contact PC Certificates for Building Safety Certification

 Apart from passing the HSE checks that will come into effect as of 1 August 2021, you can enlist an expert consultant to advise and direct you on adhering to the new legislation. We are the UK’s leading Professional Consultant Certificate service, specialising in providing trustworthy certification for property owners or buyers who want to secure a mortgage. 

By ensuring your building’s compliance with government standards, you can take a step closer to acquiring a mortgage loan from your chosen lender and be confident that up-to-date building safety regulations are being observed.

If you want expert advice and certification with an incredibly quick turnaround, get in touch today for a quote. Our streamlined, automated system will assure satisfaction. For more information, read more on how we work or see the latest news from PC Certificates.