Legislative & Standards Update – Winter 2025
Essential changes affecting property managers, landlords, and dutyholders
Regulation continues to move quickly across fire, health and safety, asbestos, and building safety. This update highlights the changes most relevant to owners, managing agents and asset teams — and what they mean for building compliance in 2025–26.
Tetra will continue to publish updates as legislation and standards develop.
1. Health & Safety – Key Changes for Landlords & Social Housing Providers
Awaab’s Law – Hazards in Social Housing Regulations 2025
New legal timeframes require faster responses to hazards such as damp, mould and structural issues.
- Emergency hazards must be acted on within 24 hours
- Significant hazards must be addressed within defined timeframes
- Tenants gain strengthened rights to escalate non-compliance
Why it matters:
Strong documentation, clear evidence and timely remedial action will be essential for landlords and managing agents. This is likely to raise expectations around inspections, reporting and follow-up management.
Electrical Safety – Mandatory Five-Yearly Testing Extended to Social Housing
From November 2025, the current five-yearly EICR requirement for private rented housing will also apply to the social rented sector.
Penalties increase from £30,000 to £40,000 for non-compliance.
Why it matters:
Providers should begin planning for portfolio-wide inspection programmes and making sure remedial work is tracked and evidenced properly.
LOLER & PSSR Review (HSE)
The HSE is reviewing lifting and pressure systems regulations to modernise and simplify them. No changes yet, but updates are expected in 2026.
Why it matters:
Potential future changes may affect obligations for lifts, lifting equipment and pressure vessels within residential blocks.
Asbestos Regulations – Proposed Changes
HSE consultation (closing January 2026) focuses on:
- Raising standards for asbestos surveys
- Strengthening independence in the four-stage clearance process
- Clarifying Notifiable Non-Licensed Work (NNLW)
Why it matters:
Dutyholders should expect clearer, firmer guidance on survey quality and post-removal assurance. Higher expectations on documentation and competence are likely.
2. Fire Safety – Significant Changes for High-Rise and Higher-Risk Buildings
Residential Evacuation Plans Regulations 2025 – Effective April 2026
New duties apply to high-rise and higher-risk residential buildings. Building owners and managers must:
- Prepare Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for residents with mobility or cognitive needs upon request
- Carry out Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments
- Share relevant information with local Fire and Rescue Services
Why it matters:
PEEPs will require structured processes, sensitive engagement with residents, and coordination with FRA and building safety teams.
BS 8674:2025 – Fire Risk Assessor Competence
A new national framework sets out clearer expectations for fire risk assessor competence at three levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced.
Why it matters:
Responsible Persons must make sure assessors are demonstrably competent — an explicit requirement under the Fire Safety Order and Building Safety Act.
BS 9792:2025 – Fire Risk Assessment Methodology (Housing)
A new structure and methodology for FRAs across all housing types, supporting consistency and clarity.
Why it matters:
Landlords and agents can expect more standardised FRA reporting, clearer prioritisation and improved transparency around recommended actions.
3. Building Safety – England & Wales
Building Safety Levy (Draft Regulations, England)
From 2026, a new levy will apply to certain residential developers to help fund remediation of unsafe buildings.
Why it matters:
Relevant for developers, RP teams and organisations managing regeneration pipelines. Early awareness will support financial planning and viability assessments.
Building Safety (Wales) Bill
A new safety regime covering multi-occupied residential buildings, with duties varying by building height and storeys.
Buildings above 11m will be subject to both fire and structural safety duties.
Why it matters:
Welsh landlords need to prepare for registration, clearer accountability, stronger resident duties and enhanced record-keeping requirements.
4. Standards & Emerging Themes
ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001 – Major Revisions (2026–2027)
New versions of these core management system standards are due.
Why it matters:
Organisations certified to these standards will need to transition. Updates may influence environmental reporting, quality controls and health & safety structures.
BS ISO 45010 – Menstruation & Menopause (Draft)
Guidance for creating supportive, inclusive workplaces.
Why it matters:
Relevant for employers reviewing wellbeing, equality and workplace adjustment policies.
Resuscitation Council UK – 2025 Guidelines
Updated best practice for CPR, common emergencies and training delivery.
Why it matters:
Impacts first aid training programmes and emergency response planning.
5. Data, Employment & Environmental Changes
Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA)
Strengthens ICO powers and introduces phased changes aligned to UK GDPR.
Why it matters:
Organisations holding resident, contractor or building safety data will need to make sure handling is strong, consistent and responsive to complaints.
Employment Rights Bill – Phased 2025–27
Includes Day 1 rights for unfair dismissal claims, enhanced protections for parents and stronger flexible working rights.
Why it matters:
Landlords and managing agents who directly employ site staff, caretakers or building managers should be aware of the changes.
WEEE Regulations 2025
New responsibilities for marketplaces selling vapes and small WEEE.
Why it matters:
Limited impact for most property managers, but relevant where onsite waste management is provided.
Heat Networks Regulations 2025 – Effective Jan 2026
Introduces Ofgem regulation, consumer protections and mandatory authorisation for operators.
Why it matters:
Applies to landlords and managing agents responsible for communal or district heating systems.
In Summary
The regulatory landscape for housing, residential blocks and mixed-use buildings continues to evolve rapidly. Property owners and managing agents should expect:
- Higher expectations on competence
- Stronger requirements for evidence, assurance and documentation
- Increased focus on vulnerability, evacuation, damp and mould, and structural safety
- More scrutiny of management systems and decision-making
Tetra will continue to help clients interpret these changes and embed compliance across their portfolios — making sure buildings are safer, governance is stronger and audit trails are clear.