Responsible Person Fire Safety Duties After Grenfell

The Grenfell Tower tragedy changed the direction of fire safety law in England and that impacts Responsible Person duties .

Since then, Responsible Persons have faced tighter legal duties, stronger expectations around record-keeping, and greater pressure to show that fire safety is being managed properly, not just assumed. As of April 2026, the latest change is the introduction of new Residential PEEPs duties from 6 April 2026 for certain higher-risk residential buildings, while earlier reforms from 2023 remain fully in force.   

In simple terms, a Responsible Person is usually the employer, owner, landlord, managing agent, or anyone with control over premises or the common parts of a building. If that is you, the law expects more than a basic tick-box exercise. You must understand your fire risks, document them properly, communicate clearly, and take practical action to protect people.   

Since 1 October 2023, all Responsible Persons under the Fire Safety Order have had to record the fire risk assessment in full, not just the significant findings. They must also record their fire safety arrangements, take reasonable steps to identify other Responsible Persons in the same premises, cooperate and coordinate with them, and pass relevant fire safety information to any incoming Responsible Person. In buildings containing two or more domestic premises, there is also a duty to give residents relevant fire safety information in a format they can understand.   

For residential buildings, earlier Grenfell-related reforms also introduced extra duties from 23 January 2023. In high-rise residential buildings, Responsible Persons must provide floor plans and external wall information to the fire and rescue service, keep hard copies in a secure information box, install wayfinding signage, and carry out monthly checks on firefighting lifts and key equipment. In multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 metres, they must carry out regular fire door checks. In all multi-occupied residential buildings, they must give residents fire safety instructions and information about fire doors.   

Now there is another important development. From 6 April 2026, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 introduce new duties for Responsible Persons in specified residential buildings. They must take reasonable steps to identify residents who may have difficulty evacuating because of a physical or cognitive impairment, offer those residents a person-centred fire risk assessment, consider and implement reasonable and proportionate mitigating measures, and agree a written emergency evacuation statement where appropriate. Guidance also makes clear that this process should be reviewed regularly and carried out with the resident’s consent.   

This is exactly why a professional Fire Risk Assessment is so valuable. A suitable and sufficient assessment does far more than help with compliance. It gives you a clearer picture of your actual risks, highlights deficiencies before they become enforcement issues, supports better resident and staff communication, and creates the written evidence you may need if your procedures are ever questioned by regulators, insurers, or investigators.   

A professional Fire Risk Assessment also helps you take a whole-building view. That matters in shared buildings, residential blocks, care settings, and mixed-use premises where risk can sit across several duty holders. When assessments are carried out properly, recommendations are prioritised, records are easier to maintain, and compliance becomes far more manageable.   

At Fire Guard Services, we help Responsible Persons move beyond paperwork and towards practical, defensible fire safety management. If you need support with a professional Fire Risk Assessment, we can help you identify risks, understand your legal duties, and take proportionate action with confidence.