Mrs

[Guest Janice Morris]

I live in a block of 8 flats. 4 ground floor /4 first floor which share an unusable loft space . The management company have said that it is a new compulsory fire regulation that the loft space has to be divided into 4 using fire proof walls to stop any fire spreading at a cost of £12000. I have been told by a builder that these updates do not apply to flats built under old building regulations. Are these works compulsory?

[AnthonyB]

When were they built - Building Regulations are not retrospective, but fire safety regulations allow for technical progress in assessing risk meaning in some situations corrective work is required. Government fire risk assessment guidance expects an existing block of flats to have a divided roof space if retaining a stay put policy, but on the other hand doesn't require new flat front doors if the original flat doors are fire doors to the standard of the time of build and are still in good condition.

It's risk assessment driven - ask for the Fire Risk Assessment carried out for the block as the management company is now legally obliged to provide you with details of the risks and protective measures in the building as well as the identity of the fire risk assessor.