Sutton Housing Partnership - Tall Buildings Resident Engagement Strategy 2024 - 2026

Overview

The Building Safety Act was brought into law as a direct response to the recommendations made by Dame Judith Hackitt in her 2018 review of fire safety and building regulations following the devastating Grenfell fire. 

In particular, the Building Safety Act 2022 requires all councils and social housing providers to produce a Building Safety Resident Engagement Strategy for all residents and homeowners in buildings defined under the Act as ‘higher risk residential buildings’ (those that are at least 18 metres in height or have at least seven storeys). 

Sutton Housing Partnership has four buildings that meet this definition: Argyle House, Balaam House, Brendon House and Chaucer House.

Areas of change under the Act

• Clearer responsibilities for individuals and organisations managing tall buildings
• A stronger voice and better information for residents
• Tougher enforcement for when things go wrong
• Greater oversight by the Regulator for Social Housing to ensure landlords are accountable to residents in an open and transparent way

What is the purpose of this Resident Engagement Strategy?
The aim of the Strategy is to ensure that residents of tall buildings are involved in decisions about safety and their building.

This strategy aims to ensure that residents living in our four high-rise buildings:

• Feel safe where they live
• Know who they can contact about building safety
• Understand both SHP’s and their responsibilities in relation to building safety
• Have a variety of methods to contact SHP about building safety
• Know how to complain about building safety if they believe their concerns are not being addressed
• Are aware of how they can become involved and influence building safety and other services delivered to their building
• Are aware of what to do if there is an incident in the building
• Feel confident to hold SHP to account about building safety at their building

This Building Safety Resident Engagement Strategy sets out our commitment to building safety, following the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022 and guidance from the Building Safety Regulator, to ensure all housing providers have a Resident Engagement Strategy in place for building safety in tall buildings. 

It will say how we will make sure that everyone living in our tallest buildings are kept informed and able to participate in decision-making about the safety of their building. It also describes how we will involve residents living in our tall buildings, listen and act on resident suggestions and concerns, to keep their home as safe as possible.
 

Why your views matter

It is really important that we have the views of a wide range of residents living in the blocks to ensure the strategies are meaningful. 

To view the full strategy please see our Building Saftey Resident Engagement Strategy. You can pick up a printed copy at our Civic and SHP Reception or call 0208 915 2000.