The government has published two new reports on building safety in England, including its latest account of progress against the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendations.
The update, published on 10 September 2026, says nine more recommendations have been completed since May. That brings the total completed since February 2025 to 30. It also includes the final report from interim Chief Construction Adviser Thouria Istephan, whose role has been to provide an independent expert voice as building-safety reforms develop.
What the update covers
The government says the Building Advisory Committee and Fire Safety Working Group are now operating, bringing together expertise from industry and academia. It has also made £13 million available to UK higher-education institutions to support fire-engineering education and skills.
Other reported work includes updated national guidance for fire and rescue services on radio communications, decision-making and water-supply systems, as well as a revised London Fire Brigade process for learning from incidents.
The Chief Construction Adviser’s report looks more broadly at the building-safety system and the policy work carried out during the past year. The government highlights the Construction Products White Paper, plans for a Single Construction Regulator and development of a building-professions strategy among the areas informed by the adviser’s work.
Why this matters to landlords
This is a progress report rather than a new duty taking effect immediately. Landlords should therefore avoid treating the announcement itself as a change to the rules for an individual property.
It does, however, show the direction of travel: further coordination of building regulation, construction-product oversight and professional standards. The government also says an upcoming Remediation Bill will be intended to ensure landlords meet responsibilities to fix unsafe buildings. The announcement does not set out the Bill’s detailed provisions, so those will need to be checked when the legislation is published and considered by Parliament.
Owners of flats or properties in higher-risk buildings should continue to keep records about the building, any safety assessments and communications from the accountable person, managing agent or freeholder. The appropriate action will depend on the building and a landlord’s legal role. Our earlier report on the Building Safety Regulator’s approach to higher-risk building assessments explains a related change announced in July.
For the latest position, read the government’s building-safety reports announcement, published on 10 September 2026. It links the latest progress reporting to the government’s continuing response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Sources
- Government publishes reports on improving building safety — Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 10 September 2026
