High Risk Buildings: Security Considerations

The horror of the tragedy at Grenfell Tower continues to reverberate throughout the social housing sector, as we soberly digest the contents of the Phase 2 Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report (the Phase 2 Report).

We have published here a full review of the key recommendations that may impact on Registered Providers, but this article specifically considers the implications from a property security perspective.

According to the Regulator's latest quarterly Fire Safety Remediation Survey of English social landlords, 10.6% of buildings are still identified as having life critical fire safety defects.

Since the Grenfell tragedy, funders are generally taking a more cautious approach to property security by seeking to add specific restrictions and/or imposing additional due diligence requirements in relation to high rise buildings. As a consequence, some Registered Providers will be forced to remove properties from charge that don't meet the enhanced requisite criteria.