The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has commenced two consultations regarding key aspects of the regimes set out under the Building Safety Act 2022.

The first consultation, due to close at 11:45 pm on 12 October 2022, focuses on the new safety regime for occupied higher-risk buildings and seeks opinions on the policy proposals covering the in-occupation phase. The consultation covers topics including:

• Registration and certification
• Accountable persons and the principal accountable person
• The safety case approach and the safety case report
• Mandatory occurrence reporting
• Residents’ voice and duties on residents
• Golden thread contents
• How the golden thread is managed and stored
• Duties on the accountable persons and the principal accountable person to share information
• Appeals and enforcement
• Key building information

The second consultation, due to close at 11:45 pm on 12 October 2022, looks at implementing the new building control regime for higher-risk buildings, and the wider changes to the building regulations for all buildings. This consultation will broadly seek opinions on topics including:

• New duty holder and competence requirements
• Gateway points
• Regulator’s notices
• Change control during construction
• Additional requirements for building work carried out in existing higher-risk buildings e.g. refurbishments
• Certifying building work that has been carried out without building regulations approval
• Golden thread of information
• Mandatory occurrence reporting systems
• Enforcement powers
• Review and appeal of building control decisions
• Wider changes to the building regulations
• Transitional provisions for the new higher-risk building regime

Given the fundamental importance of these issues to the sector, it is essential that social housing providers ensure their voice is heard. This is the opportunity for the sector to work with the Government to shape an effective regime with tenant safety at its heart.