First Building Assessment Certificate issued for GM

Greater Manchester Housing Providers (GMHP) are continuing their work to meet the requirements of the new building safety legislation, with Salix Homes becoming the first landlord in the region, and among the first in the country, to receive a Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) from the Building Safety Regulator.

The BAC for Nine Acre Court in Salford marks a major milestone under the new building safety regime introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022, which was established in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

It places new legal duties on landlords to actively manage and prove the safety of high-rise residential buildings, particularly in relation to the risk of fire and structural stability.

All GMHP members are committed to meeting the high standards now required and have been working hard to develop and submit Building Safety Cases to the Regulator, which include key safety and building information that is also shared with customers.

To obtain the certificate, landlords are required to submit a comprehensive suite of documents, including:

• A Safety Case Report, outlining how building safety risks are identified, managed and mitigated, and demonstrating that all reasonable steps have been taken to reduce risk.
• A Structural Report, providing reassurance to the Regulator of the structural stability of the building.
• A Customer Engagement Strategy, setting out how landlords involve customers in building safety decisions.
• Information on the Mandatory Occurrence Reporting system, to ensure there are clear systems in place to report building safety concerns or incidents.

The certification means a building meets the stringent requirements under the new legislation and is considered safe for occupation. It also provides further assurance to residents, visitors, and the wider public about the safety of the building.

Liam Turner, Chief Executive at Salix Homes and Chair of the GMHP Building Safety Group, said: “Achieving the first Building Assessment Certificate in Greater Manchester is a key milestone in the region’s building safety journey. It reflects the collective efforts of housing providers who are working hard to meet the new requirements and, most importantly, to keep people safe in their homes.

“All GMHP members are committed to this shared goal, and we’ll continue to work together, support one another, and engage with our customers to keep raising safety standards across all our buildings.”

Several GMHP members have now submitted Building Safety Cases to the Regulator and are currently awaiting the outcomes, as the region continues its collective effort to ensure the safety of our customers and their homes.