To kickstart 2026, our contributors explore the world of health and safety, and fire safety! From key legal insights to practical guidance, they reveal exactly what you can do to keep your block safe, compliant, and thriving.

In the News!

  • Property management company The FirstPort Group, which manages over 100 heat networks across the UK, has set up a dedicated Energy Team. The team will support clients in meeting the requirements introduced under the Energy Act 2023 – a landmark reform set to transform the management of communal heat networks and enhance service reliability for residents.
  • The qualification of a seventh Chartered Surveyor has been celebrated at Principle Estate Management, along with three other staff members achieving coveted places on a prestigious property sector list.
  • Future Group has announced the launch of a new specialist department within its Fire Division: Future Smoke Control Solutions. This development reflects a growing focus on smoke control as a critical component of fire safety across the leasehold sector.

Featured Articles

As any property manager knows, staying on top of changing regulations is more than a box-ticking exercise; it’s about protecting people, maintaining operational continuity, and safeguarding reputations. The team at ILECS Lift Consultants investigate further.

The team at Residentsline Flats Insurance looks at the benefits of a carefully planned, cyclical approach to maintenance.

Further to our articles in recent editions providing updates on the building safety landscape both in terms of case law and regulation, the team at JB Leitch take a look ahead to the key developments that will take place in 2026…

In property management, where multiple people interact with shared spaces every day, the risk of harm increases when those responsible for safety are unaware of hazards or unsure of how to control them. Health and Safety Awareness Training plays a vital role in changing that. Learn more in the article by the team at 4Site Consulting.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 – usually called CDM 2015 – were created to improve health, safety, and cooperation on construction projects. Often stakeholders feel that it is just red tape and “only for big jobs.” Earl Kendrick can help you apply it in a compliant and common-sense way. Learn more from the team at Earl Kendrick.

The team at FixFlo look at the evolving landscape of property management, health and safety is the foundation of a resilient management strategy. With legislative requirements shifting rapidly, the gap between getting by and industry-leading has never been wider.

With the recent focus on the run up to, and the subsequent details of the budget, the Government’s publication of its timeline for phasing in the Renters’ Rights Act may have gone under the radar for some. But for landlords and tenants alike, the implementation of what many have described as the biggest legislative shake up in a generation will have significant implications as discussed by Mark Chick, Joint Head Bishop & Sewell’s expert Landlord & Tenant team.

Fire safety and health and safety compliance are often discussed most loudly after something has gone wrong. Learn more from Jodie Fraser.

Many blocks of flats across the country are still living through a period of cladding remediation. While new, safer external wall systems are due for or are mid-installation, residents often continue to live in the building under interim safety measures as discussed in the article written by the team at Block in a Box.

A good plan for protecting shared outdoor spaces helps reduce risk, limits disruption and keeps insurance cover strong. For Residents’ Management Companies, freeholders and managing agents, understanding how storms affect outdoor areas and how to safeguard them is essential – learn more from the team at Manage Your Block.

The article by Flat Living Insurance explains how cost-saving behaviour links to fire safety, how to use heaters and multi-plugs safely, and how to balance ventilation with energy saving in small homes.

Many blocks have invested heavily in cladding remediation, balcony replacement and improved fire-safety features recently. Triggered by the wave of legislation changes following the Grenfell fire, this trend has been perpetuated by the rise in home working (and therefore increased balcony use) – learn more in the article by the team at London Flats Insurance.

Read all of these articles and more, in the latest edition of Flat Living Magazine.