News
Home Office: Evacuation Guidelines for Fire and Rescue Services
The Home Office has published (5 February 2024) 9 national guidelines to the FRS, intended to support operational guidance and operational practices during a full or partial evacuation from high rise residential buildings.
These guidelines arise from recommendation 33.22a from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Phase 1), which was “That the government develop national guidelines for carrying out partial or total evacuations of high-rise residential buildings, such guidelines to include the means of protecting fire exit routes and procedures for evacuating persons who are unable to use the stairs in an emergency, or who may require assistance (such as disabled people, those with cognitive impairment, older people and young children).”
To access the guidance, click here
Read the full article here
Fire Safety Reinsurance Facility For Buildings With Safety Issues launched
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has today (13th March 2024) announced a risk-pooling Fire Safety Reinsurance Facility, with cover starting from 1st April 2024.
Reinsurance support is now in place to launch the Fire Safety Reinsurance Facility, in an industry intervention to help improve the availability of insurance for certain buildings with combustible cladding and other fire safety issues.
The Facility has been established by (re)insurance broker McGill and Partners with extensive support from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and through working in partnership with the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) which will ensure brokers are made aware of the Facility.
It has two key intentions - to expand capacity for insurers already writing business for affected buildings and to encourage competition across the market so that more firms will provide cover. The ultimate solution remains the urgent need for works to take place to make buildings safe and resilient. The Facility is expected to run for three to five years whilst this happens.
Read the full article here
Pets are a Big Concern for Landlords in the Wake of Renters Reform Bill
As landlords across England brace themselves for the implementation of the Renters (Reform) Bill, Leaders Romans Group (LRG) has unveiled findings from a recent landlord survey, highlighting significant concerns among landlords about pets in rented properties.
According to Statista 57% of UK households had a pet in 2023. However, it introduces a host of challenges for property maintenance, tenant relationships, and building management.
The Renters (Reform) Bill proposes comprehensive changes, including the abolition of “no-fault” evictions under Section 21, the introduction of a “lifetime” deposit system, and, notably, provisions for tenants to request permission from their landlords to keep pets. While these changes aim to offer more stability and security for tenants, they raise significant questions about the impact on landlords and the management of their properties.
LRG’s survey, which took into account responses from landlords and tenants across England, indicates a palpable apprehension. 56% of landlords predict negative impacts due to the Bill’s approach to pet ownership in rental properties; in contrast, only 9.81% see a positive impact. This concern surpasses even the potential effects of abolishing Section 21 evictions, demonstrating the magnitude of the pet policy issue within the private rental sector.
![](https://assets.foleon.com/eu-central-1/de-uploads-7e3kk3/3997/pets-graph.f0e652bb49cd.png?)
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56% of landlords perceive the impact of the “right to request a pet” as positive for tenants, whereas 16% view it as negative, and 16% believe it will make no difference. Only 10% are unsure of the impact. Interestingly, tenants were less concerned about pet ownership; 68% said when they last moved, they didn’t ask to keep a pet, as they didn’t own one. 18% asked and were accepted, 9% had difficulty but did find somewhere to rent, and only 2% said they had difficulty and therefore, didn’t get a pet.
Allowing tenants to request permission to keep pets would require a change in tenancy agreements and acknowledges the importance of pets in people’s lives.
Commentary gathered from landlords echoes this sentiment, with one landlord noting, “ownership of Dogs in flats [is] negative unless [there is] outside space – barking can be a problem!!” Another adds, “Don’t think people should be able to have dogs more easily – they are destructive if left alone, damage gardens, but most importantly, can create difficulties with neighbours as so many bark for long periods.” A third comment reflects a broader concern: “Better for tenants but re the pets, more constraints on landlords trying to maintain decent standards of property.”
Kim Lidbury, Group Director, Property Management at LRG, underscores the complexity of the situation, “The introduction of pet-friendly policies in rental agreements is a nuanced issue that requires careful consideration to balance the interests of tenants with those of landlords. Not all property types may be suitable for pets, for instance flats within blocks and properties without gardens. The Third Reading of the Bill recently included a mandate that tenants either maintain insurance to cover potential pet damage or compensate the landlord for the reasonable cost of obtaining such insurance. This is a positive step forward which does seem to address landlords’ concerns while also enhancing the lives of tenants and their pets. However more detail is still required to ensure that pets can only be requested in an appropriate property.
“LRG is dedicated to engaging with both landlords and tenants to navigate these legislative changes effectively. By leveraging insights from the landlord community and advocating for balanced policies, LRG aims to contribute to a fair and sustainable rental market that meets the needs of all parties involved.”
Anyone wishing to read the full report of landlord and tenant sentiment can download it here
New Guidance: Preparing a Building Assessment Certificate Application
The Health and Safety Executive has published new guidance today (4 April) on preparing a Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) application for Principal Accountable Persons (PAPs).
The PAP for a high-rise residential building must apply for a BAC when told to do so by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) within 28 days - the new application portal is also live here.
ACE is back for 2024
Date & Time: Friday 21st June, 6.00pm - 12:30am
Venue: Old Billingsgate, London
Theme: The Great Gatsby/Roaring Twenties
Join us for an evening celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of the property sector’s managing agents and the impactful work of their people in improving the welfare of millions of leaseholders across the country.
Ticket sales are now open - make sure you reserve your spot or table for this summer’s event. Click here to book now