The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is changing its approach to issuing building assessment certificates (BACs) to remove “unnecessary complexity”.
The body said the changes would make the system, which covers new and existing higher-risk building (HRB) work, proportionate and targeted and will also offer greater support to resident-led principal accountable persons (PAPs).
The reset follows ongoing challenges and issues with the regime, with the time taken to complete assessments being twice as long as initially expected and 66% of applications being refused so far this year.
BSR said it would concentrate on working through existing applications until future processes are finalised.
The main changes it proposes are:
- modifying the risk-based approach, initially concentrating on organisations responsible for multiple HRBs;
- carrying out sample interventions based on risk or intelligence about buildings, organisations or duty holders;
- granting smaller, volunteer-run resident management companies more time to prepare their evidence;
- supporting applicants whose applications are being processed, as well as those who were previously refused and given building safety actions to complete before reassessment.
BSR said resident-managed buildings needed support to prepare for future inspections and providing this help “will significantly reduce the likelihood of avoidable refusals and could cut associated financial burdens on leaseholders and other residents”.
BSR acting chief executive Charlie Pugsley said: “Speed cannot come at the cost of safety, but neither can unnecessary complexity. We are committed to a new proportionate approach to assessments as well as providing updated guidance, resources and support.”
