Before the publication of the Building Safety Bill at the beginning of July, during pre-legislative scrutiny from the housing, communities and local government select committee, the government declared that the bill would “put residents at the heart” by “giving residents in higher-risk buildings a stronger voice”.

The first phase of the bill is now in our hands, and the idea of a statutory committee in the form of a residents’ panel is firmly front and centre of the government’s strategy for resident engagement. The transition plan suggests it will be introduced at least 12 months after the bill becomes law, 10 months after the limitation period of the Defective Premises Act 1972 is extended.

The message from the housing ministry seems to be that consultation with residents already made vulnerable will have to wait – while they grapple with the uncertainty of EWS1 forms, remediation costs, and negligence claims levied against building owners and developers.

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