RICS has hailed the Welsh Government’s Building Safety (Wales) Bill as “a landmark step in delivering a safer built environment for residents across Wales”.
The Bill, which follows similar legislation introduced several years earlier by the UK Parliament, introduces a new building safety regime for multi-occupied residential buildings, placing clear legal duties on accountable persons to assess and manage fire and structural risks throughout a building’s lifecycle.
It forms part of a wider programme of reforms aimed at improving safety, and is part of the Welsh Government’s broader response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
It includes:
- A programme of work aimed at addressing fire safety issues in multi-occupied residential buildings of 11m and above;
- Significant reforms to the building control system;
- Introducing new regulations for high-risk buildings;
- Clearer responsibilities for duty holders;
- Mandatory registration and regulation of building control professionals.
The Bill will require building safety risks to be assessed and managed while buildings are in occupation, for the benefit of residents and others, with a robust enforcement regime to back that up. Fire safety duties will also apply to certain Houses in Multiple Occupation.
Cabinet Secretary Jayne Bryant said:
“This landmark Bill will fundamentally transform safety in multi-occupied residential buildings across Wales.
“Its key principles are safety, accountability and residents’ voices, and it goes wider and further than existing legislation in other parts of the UK.
“It creates clear legal responsibilities for owners and others, gives residents new rights and pathways to raise complaints, enables standards for professional assessments, and provides robust enforcement powers when safety requirements aren't met.”
RICS also welcomed the publication of the Welsh Government’s detailed response to the Phase 2 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which it said outlines a comprehensive programme of reform and demonstrates a strong commitment to learning from the tragedy and ensuring it is never repeated.
RICS has been actively supporting the Welsh Government on building safety matters, including updating valuation guidance to reflect evolving safety standards and market conditions and also supporting the Leaseholder Support Scheme which helps affected homeowners navigate complex safety and financial challenges.
Sam Rees, RICS Interim Head of Public Affairs UK&I, said:
“RICS welcomes the three key principles of the Bill that have been announced by the Welsh Government. The core purpose of this Bill is to ensure that Welsh residents are protected and heard, and that professionals working within the built environment will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to ensure that safety and risks are managed holistically and transparently.
“The UK Building Safety Act (2022) enabled the Welsh Government to develop its own strategy, incorporating many aspects of the UK Bill, but with some clear differences and we are pleased to see that many of the recommendations that RICS put forward have been incorporated.
“Close collaboration between the Welsh and UK Governments will be essential to ensure consistency and clarity across borders. RICS stresses the importance of enabling a skilled, mobile professional workforce that can operate effectively across the UK, supporting the delivery of safe, high-quality homes.”
As the Bill progresses through the Senedd, RICS said it remained committed to working with policymakers, industry partners, consumer groups and our members to ensure that the new regime is practical, enforceable, and delivers meaningful change for residents.
