Building Safety Act Solicitors

The Building Safety Act 2022 was introduced following concerns for the safety of people living in high-rise buildings after the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017.

The processes used by the construction and property sectors were changed significantly after the act received Royal Assent on April 28, 2022.

The aim is to enhance accountability and responsibility regarding fire and structural safety, particularly in residential buildings.

The act addresses the responsibilities of developers, building owners, and occupants of existing higher-risk buildings, including the regulation of liability for historical defects.

It also brings about changes across the entire building process, impacting the planning, design, construction, and occupation of higher-risk buildings.

At IBB Law, our specialist property dispute solicitors can offer advice and support to anyone affected by these reforms.

To learn more about how we can help, call us now for expert, impartial and professional advice on 0330 175 7617, or contact us via the enquiry form at the top of this page.

Complete support for building safety

At IBB Law, we have extensive experience supporting individuals and businesses who are responsible for building safety. Our expert solicitors can support clients in various ways, including:

• Accountable persons and duty-holders
• Disputes
• Advice and training on Gateway One
• Remediation and remediation contribution orders
• Building liability orders
• Cost contribution orders
• Leaseholder and landlord deed of certificates
• Enforcement and improvement notices

Call today to discuss your case with our Building Safety Act solicitors

Our Building Safety Act solicitors are available in Uxbridge, Reading, Beaconsfield and Ascot. You can call one of our legal offices directly or fill in the enquiry form on our contact page and one of our legal team will call you.

How our solicitors can support you with building safety

Accountable persons and duty-holders

Each building must designate a clearly identifiable accountable person, referred to as the principal accountable person (PAP).

The principal accountable person may be an organisation, such as a management company, local authority, or social housing provider.

Or they can be an individual, such as the building owner or someone listed on the leasehold as responsible for maintaining common areas.

An accountable person is essentially someone with the ultimate responsibility for repairing any of the common parts of an occupied building.

Accountable persons have responsibilities that they must comply with, ensuring that fire and structural risks associated with the building are adequately controlled and managed.

Our Building Safety Act solicitors can help accountable persons and duty-holders understand their responsibilities to ensure compliance with the act.

We provide guidance on regulatory obligations, risk management strategies, and legal responsibilities.

We can also assist with completing Building Safety Case Reports, conducting due diligence, and representing clients in disputes.

Disputes

Our Building Safety Act solicitors have extensive experience in providing advice and representation for parties involved in disputes related to the Building Safety Act 2022 and its associated conveyancing regulations.

We have the expertise to assist a broad range of clients, including landlords, tenants, developers, and other concerned parties, ensuring you receive comprehensive support and representation.

Advice and training on Gateway One

The Building Safety Act included the introduction of ‘gateways’. The primary aim of the gateways is to introduce governance into the management of fire safety throughout the design, construction, and handover phases.

Gateway One occurs prior to the granting of planning permission. At this stage, any fire safety issues that may impact planning should be considered, such as ensuring emergency fire vehicles can access the building and assessing the adequacy of water supplies in case of a fire.

To assist the local planning authority when they are deciding whether to grant planning permission, developers are required to submit a Fire Statement outlining specific fire safety considerations related to the development along with their planning application.

Our solicitors can provide legal guidance on navigating gateway one requirements, interpreting regulatory obligations, and developing comprehensive safety plans.

We will help facilitate an effective planning process, ensuring adherence to the Building Safety Act’s conveyancing provisions while safeguarding the interests of all parties involved.

Remediation and remediation contribution orders

Remediation orders require parties responsible for repairs, to rectify any defects identified by the Building Safety Act within a specific timeframe.

These orders can be made against several parties, including building owners, management companies with repair responsibilities, freeholders, and landlords.

Our Building Safety Act solicitors can provide legal advice on navigating these orders. We can assist with identifying potential liabilities in advance and representing clients in negotiations where necessary.

Building liability orders

A building liability order is an order of the High Court to extend the liability of a company for failing to comply with building safety regulations, to other associated companies.

Companies may be considered to be associated if one controls the other, or both are controlled by the same third party.

Our Building Safety Act solicitors can provide legal advice on challenging or complying with these orders and negotiating settlements to mitigate liabilities.

Cost contribution orders

A cost contribution order requires a defaulter to pay a fair and reasonable amount to individuals with an interest in the building.

This payment covers costs reasonably incurred or expected to be incurred for making the building or dwelling suitable for habitation.

The damages aren’t limited only to the repair or replacement costs of the non-compliant building; but can also include broader expenses like the cost of alternative accommodation and other associated losses.

Our Building Safety Act solicitors can assist with negotiating a cost contribution order. We aim to ensure the fair distribution of expenses, advise on legal rights and obligations, and mitigate financial costs through effective representation.

Leaseholder and landlord deed of certificates

The purpose of the leaseholder deed of certificate is to assist ground landlords and building managers in determining which leases qualify for maximum protection under schedule eight of the Building Safety Act 2022.

This schedule limits the amount that residential leaseholders can be charged for works related to replacing defective wall insulation and associated building safety risks.

Although a leaseholder deed of certificate can be furnished to a ground landlord at any point, failure by a leaseholder to provide this certificate upon request could result in the loss of valuable rights.

Our solicitors can assist with obtaining these certificates, ensuring legal compliance.

We can advise leaseholders and landlords on their respective rights and obligations, negotiate terms, and handle disputes related to certification.

Enforcement and improvement notices

According to sections 11 and 12 of the Housing Act, an improvement notice requires the recipient to address remedial actions within a specified timeframe if category 1 or 2 risks are present at the property.

The notice cannot require remedial works to start sooner than 28 days after the date of service.

Our solicitors can assist if you have been served with an improvement notice. We can provide legal advice on challenging or complying with notices, represent you in negotiations and hearings, and advocate for a fair outcome.

Get in touch with our Building Safety Act solicitors

Our Building Safety Act solicitors are available in Uxbridge, Reading, Beaconsfield and Ascot.

You can call one of our legal offices directly or fill in the enquiry form on our contact page and one of our legal team will call you.