Checked 3 November 2026. England’s Code of Practice for the remediation of residential buildings sets expectations for the way significant fire-safety remediation projects are planned and managed around residents. The publication was first issued in July 2023; its GOV.UK collection was last updated in December 2025. It is existing guidance, rather than a newly announced law.
The government says projects should communicate with, inform and engage residents and mitigate the impact of the work on their lives. The code is directed at those responsible for projects and those carrying out the work. It focuses on remediation of external-wall fire risks, while some elements can be relevant to other significant work in multi-occupancy buildings.
Turn general updates into useful information
For a resident, an update is most useful when it explains what will happen, when it is expected to happen and who can answer questions. Ask the project team where the latest schedule is held and how changes will be communicated. Keep copies of updates so that an unresolved issue can be explained without reconstructing months of correspondence.
If your circumstances mean that works may affect you differently, raise the practical concern with the relevant project contact. Describe the impact and ask how it will be considered. Avoid assuming that a general circular has addressed a particular access or communication need.
A clear route for questions
Ask who is responsible for responding to enquiries and how an unanswered question should be followed up. A short written record can help: identify the issue, the date raised, the response received and the next agreed action. Share relevant information with the appropriate contact rather than circulating sensitive personal details widely.
For landlords and managing agents
Check that tenants as well as owners know where to obtain the project’s information. Where an owner receives a notice that affects day-to-day occupation, consider how the person living in the home will receive the same practical update.
The official collection includes the code, a residents’ guide and a plain English version. Use those documents to understand the guidance in full. This overview does not determine responsibility for defects, funding entitlement or the safety of an individual building; those questions need the relevant project evidence and professional advice.
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-for-the-remediation-of-residential-buildings/