As of January 2023, new fire safety regulations came into force. Buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises or common parts for emergency evacuation, as well as buildings over 11 meters tall are covered by this new legislation.
The enforcement, appeals and penalties for non-compliance are strict and are in place for good reason, as they ensure your asset is safe and those staying in your building have complete peace of mind.
What Does the Legislation Say?
The Fire Safety (London) Regulations say that in all multi-occupied residential buildings, the regulations require responsible persons to provide residents with fire safety instructions and information on the importance of fire doors. The regulations apply to existing buildings, and requirements for new buildings may be different.
A full overview of your responsibilities is available here.
What Do You Need to Do?
The legislation sets out all of the requirements for property owners, including:
- Providing building plans, external wall details, and information on lifts and firefighting equipment to local authorities, including the Fire and Rescue services
- Undertaking annual fire door inspections
- Providing relevant information to tenants and guests
This work is all covered in the government’s fact sheet, here.
How Can Opago Help?
At Opago, our operatives are well versed in maintenance and compliance services, putting them in an ideal position to assist property managers. For multi-property managers, undertaking compliance services can be a headache, but Opago’s proprietary technology and knowledgeable team take care of everything on your behalf.
The technology we employ allows us to timestamp compliance works, issue reminders when new works are due, and assign the work to a qualified, experienced operative in good time. This proactive approach ensures that compliance never lapses and that properties are protected year-round.
These fire safety services are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our services. Our raft of compliance services can be viewed here. Alongside this compliance work, Opago provides a far-reaching suite of services to make property management a breeze. From regular housekeeping and on-call maintenance to full property management and assistance with lettings (London only), we take care of everything.
Our goal is to provide comprehensive services to clients, allowing them to take a hands-off approach with complete peace of mind. Specifically, our compliance services take the worry away by managing due dates for things like these fire safety checks, as well as assigning the right teams at the right time. Our experts also undertake regular evaluations of current legislation, ensuring your portfolio is never at risk of being noncompliant.
What's Next?
To find out more about fire compliance works or any of our other services, get in touch with our experienced team here.