HSE is working to establish the first ever Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to ensure strong enforcement of the new regulatory system.

The government has asked HSE to establish a new building safety regulator in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster and following recommendations in the ‘Building a Safer Future’ report by Dame Judith Hackitt.

Building safety

The Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published the draft Building Safety Regulator Bill ahead of pre-legislative scrutiny, in which HSE is formally named as the new regulator.

The government has asked HSE to establish a new building safety regulator in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster and following recommendations in the ‘Building a Safer Future’ report by Dame Judith Hackitt.

The new regulator will oversee the safe design, construction and occupation of high-risk buildings so that residents are safe and feel safe. It will be independent and give expert advice to local regulators, landlords and building owners, the construction and building design industry, and to residents.

For the draft Building Safety Bill visit gov.uk.

For all the latest news subscribe to our free building safety email bulletin.

We have separate guidance on fire safety.

Advice for owners of high-rise buildings

The new building safety regulator is part of the government’s wider building safety programme which is helping building owners to take immediate steps to make sure that residents of their buildings are safe. You can read the latest advice for owners of high-rise buildings on the government’s website.

Future buildings standards and performance

The building safety regulator will:

• implement a new, more stringent regulatory regime for high risk residential buildings
• promote competence among industry professionals and regulators to raise standards in design, construction and the management of buildings
• oversee performance systems of all buildings, so one regulator can provide guidance on building performance as well as building safety, ensuring that factors like countering climate change are factored into regulatory decisions

To establish the building regulator HSE is working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, the Home Office, Local regulators, building control bodies, building owners, housing providers, the construction industry, the Local Government Association, Local Authority Building Control and the National Fire Chiefs Council.

Advice for tenants and residents

It’s important tenants and residents feel safe in the homes.

If you have any concerns regarding the safety of your building, current advice is that you should:

• in the first instance, contact your landlord or building owner
• if you are still concerned, you should then contact your local authority or local fire and rescue service for advice
• if you do not feel that the issue has been sufficiently dealt with, you can contact the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government building safety team