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BLOCK MANAGEMENT GUIDE
Building compliance guide
Understanding your legal responsibilities as a freeholder, RMC or RTM director
Owning a flat in a managed building means you are also part of the legal entity responsible for the building itself. With that ownership come serious legal compliance obligations.
This guide explains what is legally required, and how professional block management protects you.
WHO IT IS FORFreeholders, RMC and RTM directors |
KEY LEGISLATIONFire Safety Order 2005 and Building Safety Act 2022 |
01
Your building, your responsibility
Whether you are part of a Residents’ Management Company, a Right to Manage company, a share of freehold or own the freehold directly, you share responsibility for the building’s legal compliance. Many flat owners are unaware of what failing to meet these duties can lead to.
Ownership usually takes one of these forms
- A Residents’ Management Company (RMC)
- A Right to Manage (RTM) company
- A share of freehold
- Direct freeholder ownership
FAILURE TO MEET COMPLIANCE DUTIES CAN RESULT IN
Personal director liability, unlimited fines, criminal prosecution, invalidated insurance, mortgage restrictions and enforcement notices.
02
Fire safety compliance
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Building Safety Act 2022, the Responsible Person, often the freeholder or RMC directors, must ensure the following are in place.
- Fire Risk Assessment
- A documented fire safety policy
- Maintenance of fire alarm systems, if installed
- Emergency lighting testing
- Fire door inspections, including flat entrance doors
- Clear escape routes
- Signage compliance
- Dry riser and wet riser servicing, where applicable
- Fire stopping integrity
BUILDINGS OVER 11 METRES
Additional fire door checks
Quarterly on communal fire doors and annually on flat entrance doors.
BUILDINGS OVER 11 METRES
Increased accountability
Increased accountability requirements for the Responsible Person.
IMPORTANT
Failure to comply can result in criminal liability.
03
The risk of self-management
Many resident-run buildings underestimate what compliance now involves.
- The volume of compliance documentation required
- The speed at which legislation is evolving
- The personal liability exposure for directors
- The administrative burden of record-keeping
- The enforcement powers of regulators
IN SHORT
Compliance is no longer informal. It is heavily regulated and actively enforced.
04
Why professional management matters more than ever
Legislation has tightened significantly in recent years.
- Building Safety Act 2022
- Fire Safety Act
- Enhanced fire door regulations
- Stricter enforcement powers
Regulators now expect structured, documented compliance rather than informal oversight.
05
Is your building fully compliant?
Many flat owners assume compliance is in place. Ask yourself:
- When was your Fire Risk Assessment last reviewed?
- Is your asbestos register up to date?
- Are fire door inspections documented?
- Is your lift certification current?
- Are you meeting director filing obligations?
NOT SURE?
If you are unsure of any of these, your building may be exposed. Contact our Block Management team for a compliance review.
HOW OAKFIELD HELPS
How Oakfield Block Management protects you
We act as your professional managing agent, providing structured, compliant and transparent block management designed to protect your building, your investment, your fellow leaseholders and you personally as a director or freeholder.
Most importantly, we reduce your personal exposure.
- Commission and review Fire Risk Assessments
- Arrange statutory inspections and servicing
- Maintain compliance schedules
- Ensure Section 20 procedures are correctly followed
- Manage health and safety risk assessments
- Oversee contractor compliance
- Maintain full documentation records
- Liaise with insurers
- Support directors with Companies House obligations
- Keep your building aligned with current legislation
MORE BLOCK MANAGEMENT GUIDES
Explore our other guides
FOR RESPONSIBLE PERSONS AND LEASEHOLDERS
Fire door compliance
How fire doors protect escape routes, who is responsible when a door fails inspection, and why a collective approach works best.
FOR RESPONSIBLE PERSONS AND RESIDENTS
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)
What a PEEP is, which buildings now need evacuation planning, and how Oakfield manages the process on behalf of the Responsible Person.
FOR RESIDENTS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS
Building Safety Cases: what you need to know
What a Building Safety Case is, why every high-rise building needs one, what it costs and how Oakfield coordinates the process.
SPEAK TO OAKFIELD BLOCK MANAGEMENT
Arrange a compliance review
Contact our Block Management team for a compliance review of your building.
HEAD OFFICE4 Hayland Industrial Park |
GET IN TOUCH01424 854814OPENING HOURSMonday to Friday |