Building Safety Act

An introduction into what the Building Safety Act is

The Building Safety Act 2022 is a law introduced in England (note: it does not apply to Wales in relation to the new higher-risk building regime) that aims to ensure those responsible for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) understand and act on their obligations-making buildings safer, more transparent, and accountable, with residents at the heart of the process. This is great news for anyone living in one of these buildings-including you!

The law sets out clear duties, roles, and processes for buildings defined as Higher-Risk: meaning they are 18 metres or taller, or have 7 or more storeys, and contain at least two residential units. These measures are designed to support a culture of proactive building safety management for your Landlord as the “Accountable Person”, and Homes for Students as one of the “Responsible Persons”.

What does this mean for you?

We’ve got you covered!

In line with the Building Safety Act, we’ve introduced measures to create a proactive, transparent, and accountable safety regime in your building. If anything fundamental changes that affects your safety or the way the building is managed, we’ll inform you and involve you-because your voice matters.

While safety regulations are something we follow closely, the most important thing is ensuring you feel secure, informed, and heard while living with us. Your safety is our top priority, and we’re committed to making sure concerns are taken seriously, logged, and addressed promptly.

What is our Resident Engagement Strategy?

Our Resident Engagement Strategy is a key part of how the Landlord meets their obligations under the Building Safety Act. It ensures that important safety information is shared clearly and accessibly, and that you have opportunities to get involved in decisions about your building’s safety.

Homes For Students are committed to creating an environment where residents can raise concerns, ask questions, and provide input in a way that’s easy and straightforward.

Our approach includes:

Clear and accessible communication: Safety information is provided in plain, easy-to-understand language suitable for all our residents.
Two-way dialogue: We don’t just talk at you – we listen. Residents are encouraged to engage in conversations around safety and bring forward any issues or feedback.
Multiple channels for communication: Including our in-house app, KLIQ®, which lets you receive updates, participate in surveys, and contact us directly.
Resident involvement in safety planning: You’ll be informed of major changes, consulted on key matters, and invited to participate in safety-related initiatives.

If you have any concerns or queries about building safety or anything else – you’re encouraged to speak to your General Manager or a member of the team. We’re here to help and we take every concern seriously.

Involve our residents

Creating a sense of community by making sure our residents feel they are involved and informed about changes at our properties
Use various communication channels including our in-house application, KLIQ®, to communicate and interact with residents on a regular basis and providing a platform for the residents to
Encourage residents to participate in discussions and activities relating to the building’s safety, through clear communication and taking part in surveys.

Informing our residents

We will keep you informed about the safety of your property while also taking into consideration appropriate time frames to arrange accessibility requirements.

Regularly updating our residents on safety measures and any changes in law that affects their living space
The use clear communication channels, such as meetings, digital platforms and our resident app, KLIQ®, will be used to distribute critical information in a clear and accessible manner.
Where there is any risk critical planed work that could impact on the life safety systems and/or is a significant refurbishment project, we will engage with residents well in advance so that their views and concerns can be heard and taken into account.
We will supply you with all fire safety information, including fire evacuation information and how to prevent a fire happening, prior and during your arrival to our property.

Encourage

If you have any questions or concerns about your property or living space, you can always speak to your General Manager, details will be present at your reception area.

For those who wish to report concerns, you will remain anonymous, and all reports will be confidential.
We are dedicated to resident safety and wellbeing, so will actively respond to and address and reported concerns.
You can also report any issues to us via the MM Helpdesk app, where the code for your property will be available in your handbook and at reception.

Our Responsibilities

Conduct regular Fire Risk Assessments to identify and address potential hazards in your property.
Where your accommodation may be significantly impacted, we’ll promptly inform you of any electrical, structural or safety issues within your property and provide details on how they will be addressed and rectified.
We’ll share fire safety and prevention information with your regularly.
We’ll regularly make sure all life safety systems at your property are functioning correctly and checked on a regular basis.
We’ll remove any items from communal areas that may pose a fire risk, whilst also ensuring clear escape routes. We also ask you to be vigilant yourselves in these areas!
We’ll clearly identify emergency exit routes, and provide a Fire Action Notice to every room with clear evacuation instructions.
We’ll prioritise resident safety when making decision related to the property.

Resident Responsibilities

Fire safety should be a concern for everybody.

Residents are sign posted to relevant building safety information to ensure that they are familiar with fire/building safety relevant to their building with instructions detailed on notices within their halls.

Fire doors are to be kept closed at all times (this includes flat doors, kitchen doors and shared flat doors) as they can help to contain a fire and prevent the spread of smoke.
Not to interfere with fire safety equipment such as the covering of smoke detectors and the miss use of fire extinguishers.
Not to block corridors, stairwells, and emergency escape routes with rubbish and/or personal possessions.
Smoking, including e-cigarettes, vapes and shisha pipes, is strictly prohibited in your halls, in addition chip pans, deep fat fryers, candles and incense sticks are strictly prohibited.
Resident area aware that all E-Bikes and E-scooters are prohibited within the buildings, as such they will not be permitted within the building.
British kite marked UK plugs are only to be used and not an international plug is not permitted as the power output varies.
All halls are designated non-smoking buildings by English law. Should the resident discover a fire discover the alarm is to be immediately raised (by using the red call point), call 999 and notify a member of the team.

Residents are encouraged to bring to the attention of the property teams any concerns around the safety of the building and/or to report any damage in relation to the life safety aspects of the building.