If you’re a landlord, building owner, or property manager in Surrey — especially if you manage flats, HMOs, or mixed-use buildings — you’ve probably heard about the Building Safety Act 2022.
It’s one of the biggest overhauls to building safety law in decades, and it changes how you manage your property, your paperwork, and your responsibilities.
So what does it mean for you?
And how can you stay compliant here in Surrey?
Let’s break it down in plain English.
Why the Building Safety Act Exists
The Building Safety Act 2022 was born out of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the investigations that followed.
It became painfully clear that the old system wasn’t working — too much confusion, too many grey areas, and not enough accountability.
This new law aims to fix that by making sure building safety is managed properly throughout a building’s life — from design and construction through to occupation and maintenance.
It applies across England, including right here in Surrey.
The Three Big Ideas Behind the Act
To make sense of it, think of the Building Safety Act as built around three main ideas:
1️⃣ Clearer accountability — It identifies exactly who’s responsible for safety at every stage.
2️⃣ Stronger regulation — It introduces the Building Safety Regulator to oversee compliance and standards.
3️⃣ The ‘golden thread’ — A requirement to keep accurate, up-to-date information about how the building is designed, built, and maintained.
This isn’t just paperwork — it’s a digital record designed to ensure future safety decisions are based on facts, not guesswork.
Who It Applies To
The Act covers all building owners and managers, but it places particular emphasis on “higher-risk buildings” — those that are:
• Over 18 metres or 7 storeys high, and
• Contain two or more residential units
That includes many apartment blocks and converted properties across Surrey — in places like Guildford, Woking, Epsom, Reigate and Camberley.
But even if your building is smaller, the principles of accountability and good record-keeping still apply.
The New Roles and Responsibilities
The Act introduces two new key roles:
The Accountable Person
This is the person or organisation who owns or manages the building — often the freeholder, landlord, or managing agent.
Their job is to make sure fire and structural safety risks are identified and managed properly.
They must also appoint a Building Safety Manager (or take on the duties themselves) to oversee day-to-day safety.
The Building Safety Regulator
Operated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), this new body oversees compliance, registration, and enforcement for high-risk buildings.
If you manage one of these buildings in Surrey, you’ll need to register it with the Regulator — and keep all safety information (including your Fire Risk Assessments) up to date and accessible.
You can find more information directly from the HSE Building Safety Regulator.
What It Means for Fire Safety in Surrey
Here’s the crucial part: the Building Safety Act doesn’t replace the Fire Safety Order 2005 or the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 — it works alongside them.
That means you still need to:
✅ Have a Fire Risk Assessment that’s suitable and sufficient.
✅ Keep detailed records of inspections, testing, and maintenance.
✅ Document your fire doors, external walls, alarms, and emergency lighting.
✅ Communicate fire safety information clearly to residents or tenants.
In short, the new Act doesn’t change what you have to do — it changes how well you have to prove you’re doing it.
How Non-Compliance Is Handled
The Building Safety Regulator has strong enforcement powers.
If you don’t register a high-risk building, fail to provide accurate information, or ignore safety issues, you could face:
- Civil penalties (fines and rectification costs)
- Criminal prosecution for serious negligence
- Removal from the register, which could prevent you from managing the property at all
And because this law is designed to promote transparency, these actions can be made public — not great for reputation or business.
What You Should Be Doing Now
If you’re managing property in Surrey, here’s a practical checklist to stay compliant:
• Review and update your Fire Risk Assessment.
• Gather and safely store all relevant safety documents (plans, test certificates, inspection logs).
• Make sure your external walls, doors, and fire systems are included in assessments.
• Check if your building is classed as higher risk and register it with the Building Safety Regulator if needed.
• Train staff or contractors on new roles and procedures.
• Keep the “golden thread” — your building’s safety record — current and digital.
Helping Surrey Landlords Stay Ahead
At Fire Risk Assessment Surrey, we work with landlords, developers, and managing agents across Guildford, Woking, Camberley, Farnham, and Epsom to make compliance simple.
We’ll carry out your Fire Risk Assessment, help you document your safety measures, and prepare your records so you’re ready for inspection or registration.
Because compliance isn’t about paperwork — it’s about peace of mind.
Book your Fire Risk Assessment in Surrey today and make sure your building meets every standard under the Building Safety Act 2022.
