Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to give the Health and Safety Executive the powers to be more proactive in investigating suspected dangerous buildings, to prevent rather than react to incidents.

The Building Safety Act 2022 requires the Building Safety Regulator to keep the safety and standards of all buildings under review.

For buildings defined as higher risk under the Building Safety Act 2022, essentially multi-residential buildings at least 18m in height or with seven storeys or more, those responsible are required to take proportionate and effective steps to manage fire and structural safety risks. Where this is not demonstrated, the Regulator will be able to use its enforcement powers to require improvements to prevent incidents before they take place.

For buildings not in scope of the new higher-risk buildings regime, local authorities and fire and rescue services have powers to investigate dangerous buildings and compel building owners to address safety risks under the Housing Act 2004, Building Act 1984, and Fire Safety Order 2005. These powers also continue to apply in respect of higher-risk buildings. Local authorities and fire and rescue services have also been granted new powers in the form of remediation orders under the Building Safety Act.