The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has announced that it plans to modify how it issues building assessment certificates (BACs).
The proposed new approach will be more proportionate and targeted. It will also offer greater support to resident-led principal accountable persons (PAPs).
The building assessment certificate foundation plan responds to feedback from PAPs, financial institutions and other stakeholders. It addresses the implementation of requirements for occupied higher-risk buildings (HRBs) introduced in the Building Safety Act 2022.
The plan aims to:
- Ensure building safety legal duties remain in place for more than 6,000 legally responsible PAPs and accountable persons (APs) of HRBs across England while the plan is developed
- Apply learning from the introduction of the BAC regime to improve assessment processes
- Only call in new applications when necessary until improved processes are agreed and communicated to duty holders
- Prioritise applications already undergoing an assessment
- Explore options for proportionate, fast-track reassessments for previously refused certificates once standards are met
- Provide greater, more targeted support to resident-led PAPs
- Help protect residents and leaseholders from unnecessary or unexpected costs
- Continue to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to inform potential long-term legislative changes
Ongoing duties of PAPs and APs under the act remain in place. Whatever changes are made to how BSR approaches its work on BACs, all PAPs and APs must continue to manage their buildings to ensure residents are safe from the risks of fire spread and structural failure.