
Building Safety
April 6th marks a significant date in the calendar, with the focus of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) shifting towards the implementation of the new building safety regime outlined in the Building Safety Act and associated secondary legislation.
The deadline for registering an existing higher risk building (HRB) with the regulator and submitting the required key building information lapsed in October last year. From April 6th this year, the BSR will commence assessments of buildings.
To obtain a Building Assessment Certificate, the Accountable Person, responsible for occupied HRBs, must submit three key pieces of information:
- A Safety Case and Safety Case Report
- A Residents Engagement Strategy
- A framework and process for reporting mandatory occurrences
Upon receiving this information, the BSR will assess the building and issue a Building Assessment Certificate if satisfied. Failure to display this certificate is an offence under the Act. Notably, any identified risks related to fire spread, fire safety, or structural failure must be reported to the BSR, with failure to do so constituting an offence punishable by enforcement and prosecution.
Accountable Persons must promptly identify and assess building safety risks, taking steps to mitigate and control them. Implementing a resident engagement strategy and establishing processes to capture and report mandatory safety occurrences are crucial.
Buildings have been categorised into annual groups based on height and number of dwellings, with taller buildings and those with more dwellings prioritised for assessment. Buildings with Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding or Large Panel System (LPS) built between 1957 and 1973, without confirmed remediation, will be assessed in the first year.
Understanding your stock portfolio’s history, current status, and future trajectory is paramount. ARK offers extensive support in decision-making, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory duties while delivering optimal outcomes for residents.
Our services include reviewing available data, conducting gap analysis, strategic asset management appraisals, and providing technical support. With a team of over one hundred senior housing professionals, ARK excels in strategic asset management, compliance, development, building safety, decarbonisation, and project management. Our proprietary asset evaluation and grading platform empowers housing providers with evidence-based insights into their housing stock performance.
We take pride in our sector support and unparalleled experience across various projects, offering expertise across the entire housing sector.
If you would like more information, simply get in touch and we can offer our support where possible.
Luke Beard, Assistant Director – lbeard@arkconsultancy.co.uk
News & Insights
Read the latest housing sector news, blogs, and commentary from ARK.

EPC C by 2030: The Clock is Ticking
By Luke Beard ·The UK government has set a major challenge: all social housing must have an EPC rating of C or above …

ARK Assistant Director Paul O’Callaghan’s 40-Mile Charity Walk for We Can Kick It
By Pete Evans ·ARK proudly supports Paul O’Callaghan’s 40-mile walk for We Can Kick It, raising funds for children battling cancer through football …

Helping Housing Associations Navigate Strategic Risks in 2025
By Helen Scurr ·This article discusses the key risks facing housing associations in 2025, as revealed by Inside Housing’s 2025 Risk Register survey. …
Subscribe to our newsletters for the latest industry insights
Our newsletters and reports will keep you updated on topical issues from the sector as well as what’s happening at ARK.