While the Building Safety Act was passed in 2022 and largely came into effect the following year, it has taken time for its full implications to become clear. Over the course of 2024, we’ve seen it become a primary focus for our clients.
Specifically, we’ve been helping clients put together building safety case reports for high-risk residential buildings. These identify building safety risks – primarily fire or structural failure – and explain how they are being managed. So, we work with clients to ensure they have comprehensive safety management systems in place, including procedures for testing and maintaining safety measures. That in turn means having protocols to make sure any contractors are fully competent and materials are of a suitable standard, as well as getting adequate emergency plans in place.
Another major development this year is that we now offer both structural engineering and MEP services through our specialist divisions. Structural Engineer is highly relevant to building safety, as it means we have been able to provide specialist assessments of the building structures, a vital input to the overall assessment of the building.
On a separate note, we have also launched a brand new service line in EK Country & Coastal to serve the growing needs of our client base for the prime property market of the south west. This is a reminder that there is continuing demand for ‘bread and butter’ surveying services at all levels.
Looking ahead, though, we expect 2025 to be another year dominated by the need to help clients ensure compliance with the Building Safety Act. In particular, we anticipate growing demand for the following services.
Fire upgrade works
We are regularly appointed to work on fire upgrade schemes, including both passive measures, which prevent the spread of fire, and active measures to detect and extinguish fires, as well as facilitating escape. We expect to see a significant increase in the number of schemes we are appointed on in 2025.
CDM Principal Designer
The Principal Designer role is fundamental to the safety of a project where there is more than one contractor, which is a significant amount when you consider scaffolders and specialist trades.
The Principal Designer liaises with all parties and predominantly facilitates information sharing, collaborating and evaluating risk throughout the lifecycle of a building. The role considers the end use and occupation of a building, not just during the works, and so is far more valuable than is often realised.
License to alter applications
In leasehold buildings, any alterations proposed by leaseholders now have to be considered with specific reference to the Building Safety Act. This means we may well see an uptick in license applications as landlords look to ensure they comply with the Act and building regulations. This is one more good reason to get the process right first time, rather than allowing leaseholders to carry out works and dealing retrospectively with any issues. The implications of alterations and any “House Rules” can be readily communicated within resident engagement strategies.
Cladding remediation
Even seven years on from the Grenfell Tower disaster, recent figures from Homes England have highlighted that large numbers of blocks still have cladding to be remediated. We expect to be asked to supporting more clients in the project management of these replacement schemes.
Ahead of the curve, with Sustainability and decarbonisation in the minds of Property managers and Leaseholders alike, our teams have been undertaking building assessments and an emerging trend is the identification of communal heating systems as keystones for improvement. This mirrors the new Labour government who have set out its agenda and awareness around the decarbonisation of our energy systems. The government has expressed particular concern about the advancing age of the country’s communal heating systems with low carbon alternatives such as heat networks likely to be at least part of the solution.
Also emerging from the political sphere is the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, a new Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill was announced in the King’s Speech. We expect more details on this in the near future, but it’s likely that it will include further measures to improve leaseholders’ rights and perhaps take steps to extend the uptake of the new commonhold tenure.
Whatever happens, it’s safe to say we expect to be busy in 2025! We look forward to helping our clients ensure the safety of their buildings and everyone who uses them. And, as ever, we’ll look to stay ahead of the latest trends in the sector so we can provide timely and up-to-date advice to clients and peers alike.
About the Author:
Zoë Walheim MRICS,
EK Group Operations Director.
With a decade’s experience as a Chartered Surveyor, Zoe brings an enduring love of the built environment into her operational role. She leads the team in implementing a variety of working practices, while her positive, practical approach to problem solving is infectious. Previously, Zoë spearheaded the launch of Earl Kendrick’s Brighton office in 2016 and has cemented the company’s presence across the South. Since establishing our regional presence on the South Coast, Zoe has supported fellow Directors on the regional expansion of Earl Kendrick Nationwide.
