Guidance for Occupants - Responsibilities of the Building Manager

Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their home. The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced a comprehensive framework of laws and responsibilities designed to ensure that buildings are not only structurally sound but also managed in a way that prioritises resident safety.

Under this Act, Building Managers and Owners (Accountable Persons) have clear legal duties to maintain high standards of safety and compliance throughout the life cycle of a building. By fulfilling these responsibilities, building managers / accountable persons can create a safe and secure living environment for everyone:

These responsibilities include:

1. Regular Safety Inspections: Building managers should conduct regular safety inspections to identify and address any potential hazards, ensuring the building meets all safety standards.
2. Maintenance of Safety Equipment: They are responsible for maintaining and testing fire safety equipment, such as smoke detectors that are part of a communal system, fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors and sprinkler systems, to ensure they are in working order.
3. Clear Communication: Building managers should provide clear and timely communication about emergency evacuation  procedures, the importance of fire doors, maintenance schedules, and any changes that may affect occupants. 
4. Prompt Response to Issues: Building managers must respond promptly to any reported safety concerns or maintenance issues raised by occupants.
5. Compliance with Regulations: Building managers must ensure the building complies with all relevant safety regulations and standards, including those set out in the Building Safety Act 2022. This includes removal of unsafe cladding (if applicable) by 2029, in line with the National Remediation Acceleration Plan.
6. Resident Engagement Strategy: Building managers must establish and implement a Residents’ Engagement Strategy which is designed to promote resident participation in building safety decisions and must include specific actions related to remediation of flammable cladding and other fire safety defects.
7. Liaison with the Fire and Rescue Service: Building managers must share information regarding floor plans and external wall systems with the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), and provide a Secure Information Box with hard copies of this information to be accessible by the FRS in the event of an incident.

Further Guidance can be found here Safety in high-rise residential buildings: accountable persons  - GOV.UK