Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025

New safety rules for some residential buildings from 6 April 2026

From 6 April 2026, new regulations come into force in England to help improve the safety of residents who may need support to evacuate their building in the event of a fire.

These changes are known as the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025. They introduce a new process called Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (RPEEPs).

These regulations introduce new legal duties for Responsible Persons (RPs) in certain residential buildings to help improve the safety of residents who may be unable to evacuate without assistance during a fire.

If your building is in scope of the Regulations (all buildings with 2+ domestic premises that are 18 metres or 7 storeys or more from ground level, and buildings over 11 metres from ground level where a simultaneous evacuation strategy is in place), from 6 April 2026 you must:

1. Identify relevant residents

Use reasonable endeavours to identify residents whose ability to evacuate without assistance is affected by a physical or cognitive impairment.

2. Offer a person-centred fire risk assessment (PCFRA)

In addition to offering a PCFRA, you should also ensure a PCFRA is carried out if a resident requests one.

3. Consider reasonable and proportionate mitigation measures

Implement “mitigating measures” that are “reasonable and proportionate” to enable the relevant resident to evacuate the building safely.

Information about who bears the cost for mitigation measures can be found in the Government’s Responsible Person Guidance.

4. Seek to agree an emergency evacuation statement

Agree with the relevant resident how they will evacuate the building safely in the event of a fire, record the approach in an emergency evacuation statement (opens in new window) and share a copy of this statement with the relevant resident.

5. Share minimal prescribed information with us - only with explicit resident consent

Up-to-date information should be maintained in the Secure Information Box (SIB) at the premises, so that this is readily available to operational crews upon initial attendance.

This includes:

  • flat number

  • floor number

  • basic indication of assistance likely required

  • whether an emergency evacuation statement exists

No medical or personal information should be shared.

As it is to be used during an incident, the information needs to be clear and succinct so that operational crews can quickly review and interpret the information before making tactical plans.

6. Maintain and review these arrangements

RPEEP-related assessments and arrangements must be reviewed:

  • at least every 12 months,

  • earlier if something changes, or

  • at a relevant resident’s reasonable request.

7. Prepare and review a building emergency evacuation plan

You must also prepare a building wide evacuation plan, share it with us, and review it at least every 12 months.

This should include:

  • A copy of instructions to residents

  • whether there are relevant residents

  • any additional safety features in place (such as an evacuation alert system)

Responsible Persons Toolkit

In addition to the above guidance, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have developed the Responsible Persons toolkit, which provides worked examples of how the requirements may be implemented. 

Why are these changes being introduced?

After the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Government committed to improving evacuation arrangements for people whose ability to evacuate without assistance may be affected.

The aim of the new rules is to ensure residents who would need assistance to evacuate are identified, considered, and supported in a practical way.

Which buildings are covered?

The new duties apply to residential buildings in England that are:

  • 18 metres or 7 storeys above ground level or higher, or

  • over 11 metres above ground level where a simultaneous evacuation strategy is in place (meaning everyone should leave the building if there is a fire, even if you are not directly affected by the smoke from the fire)

Who is a “relevant resident”?

A relevant resident is someone who:

  1. Lives in the building as their only or main home, and

  2. Has a physical or cognitive impairment or condition that means they may be unable to leave the building without help during a fire.

Examples might include:

  • reduced mobility

  • hearing or sight impairments

  • long-term health conditions

  • cognitive conditions affecting awareness or decision making

A resident can appoint a representative or trusted person to act on their behalf if needed. Further information can be found in the Government’s guidance for Responsible Persons (opens in new window)

Compliance

As the enforcing authority for your building under the Fire Safety Order, we will be checking for compliance during any fire safety audits carried out at the premises. Where we find evidence of noncompliance, we may take enforcement action in line with our statutory duties.

What residents should do

Whilst it is the responsibility of the Responsible Person to identify relevant residents, those residents who believe they may need support to evacuate should be encouraged to contact you directly. Participation in the RPEEP process is voluntary for residents and they may withdraw consent to information sharing at any time.

In an emergency, residents should always ring 999.

Information for residents

How we will use information you provide

Any information shared with us through the premise Secure Information Box (SIB) will be used solely to support operational response and will be handled securely in line with data protection requirements. We will not collect, store or request medical details.

Find out more

For more information about the new regulations, you can visit the Government’s official guidance pages (opens in new window)


Last updated: Thursday, 12 March 2026


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