Assembly backs Fixed Penalty Notices to speed up building safety work

The London Assembly Fire Committee has called on the Government to introduce fixed penalty notices and powers to seize buildings from owners who do not carry out fire safety work needed to keep residents safe.

At a meeting of the Committee in January, the London Fire Commissioner told Assembly Members of the significant amount of time and expense pursuing court action against non-compliant property owners and the significant costs to the London Fire Brigade – noting two cases which took between two and three years to complete.¹

In a letter to the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, published today, the Committee:

• States its support for measures including Fixed Penalty Notices and the seizure of buildings that have not been made safe, to speed up action to carry out essential safety work and reduce the LFB’s costs.
• Asks what consideration the government has given to making enforcement self-funding, through the use of fines.
• Calls for the creation of a national strategy to develop a skilled workforce and increase the number of fire safety engineers

The Committee also heard from the Commissioner on the Government’s proposed introduction of Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (RPEEPs) later in 2025, which are intended to keep disabled residents safe in the event of a fire, with the Committee agreeing that the proposals are a “step forward”. The Committee has written to the Home Office asking for more details on issues including:

• The funding being made available to support RPEEPs
• How enforcement of RPEEPs will be carried out, including the role of Fire and Rescue Services
• When a toolkit for ‘responsible persons’ for RPEEPs will be made available.

Chair of the London Assembly Fire Committee, Hina Bokhari OBE AM, said:

“The Committee is very concerned about delays to carrying out the work needed to make buildings safe and the impact on residents in London.

“Urgent action is needed to speed up this process and to ensure that the system for enforcement doesn’t come at the London Fire Brigade’s expense.

“More detail is also needed on the RPEEPs being rolled out to help disabled Londoners living in high and medium-rise buildings.

“As we heard from the London Fire Commissioner, if even 10% of disabled Londoners are living in these types of buildings, 120,000 people might benefit from RPEEPs. It is vital that the Government gives those residents the clarity and support they need.”