Fire Safety in Blocks of Flats: What Freeholders Must Do in 2026

Your core legal duties

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and the Building Safety Act, freeholders must ensure:

• A suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment is in place

• A “Responsible Person” is formally appointed

• Communal areas are kept free from combustible materials

• Fire doors, alarms and emergency lighting are inspected and maintained

• Records are kept and available for inspection

Failure in any one of these areas can result in enforcement notices, prosecution or invalidated insurance.

Common risk areas we see

• Out-of-date fire risk assessments

• Fire doors not inspected or incorrectly repaired

• Poor record keeping

• No clear evacuation strategy

• Contractors working without method statements

Why specialist block management helps

A specialist block manager ensures:

• Compliance dates are tracked

• Inspections are scheduled

• Documentation is maintained

• Contractors are vetted

• Risks are identified before enforcement action occurs

If you self-manage, a simple oversight can become an expensive legal problem.

Tip: A free compliance inspection can identify risks early and cost nothing.