Legislative change is fast approaching for both Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) and electrical safety obligations for social landlords. Many housing providers will already have similar processes in place as part of best practice, but the shift to stricter legal duties means these processes must now align with the new requirements and be clearly reflected in policies and procedures. 

You can read our previous posts on the changes to electrical safety and Residential PEEPs here, but a summary of key considerations for housing providers is set out below.

What is changing?

Residential PEEPs: From 6 April 2026, for buildings containing two or more sets of domestic premises that are at least (i) 18 metres/7 storeys in height, or (ii) over 11 metres in height with a simultaneous evacuation strategy, the Responsible Person is required to:

• identify relevant residents who may need assistance to evacuate;
• offer Person‑Centred Fire Risk Assessments (PCFRAs) to those residents;
• implement reasonable and proportionate measures to mitigate risks identified in the PCFRA;
• agree a written evacuation statement with the resident; and
• (with the resident’s explicit consent) share prescribed information with the Fire and Rescue Service.

Electrical safety: The updated electrical safety regulations currently apply to social housing tenancies granted on or after 1 December 2025, with requirements for existing tenancies (those granted before 1 December 2025) taking effect from 1 May 2026. 

Transitional provisions require social landlords to ensure that by 1 November 2026:

• electrical installations have been inspected and tested by a qualified person;
• electrical equipment provided under the tenancy has been checked by a qualified person; and
• all other obligations under the regulations are met.

What does this mean for providers?

Housing providers need to prepare for the upcoming changes and ensure their processes meet the new legal requirements to avoid regulatory and legal risk.

Key areas to review include:

• Policies and procedures: Have your policies, procedures and internal frameworks been reviewed to reflect current and upcoming regulatory requirements? Do they incorporate relevant government guidance and clearly outline how compliance will be monitored in practice?
• Communication and access: How will you communicate changes to residents and other stakeholders? Do you have clear processes for arranging safe and timely access for inspections? How will you identify residents who may need additional support and ensure reasonable adjustments are made (for example, arranging assistance for residents who may require a PCFRA)?
• Record‑keeping: Are your systems capable of tracking key compliance dates and securely maintaining all legally required records? Can you easily monitor assets and obligations (for example, electrical equipment provided under the tenancy), and ensure that ongoing responsibilities, such as updating Residential PEEPs, are carried out and logged accurately? Have you considered how you will handle consent and information‑sharing where this may be required?

Effective preparation now will help providers manage risks and be ready for the changes.

For more information

If you would like support with any of the areas discussed above, or to speak with the regulatory team about how we can help, please contact us.