Guidance

Plain English guide to the Code of Practice for the remediation of residential buildings

Updated 12 December 2025

Applies to England

This easy-to-read guide helps residents understand what the Code of Practice says about fixing homes. It should be used with the full Code. It does not replace it. Anyone fixing unsafe cladding on buildings should follow the full Code. 

Executive summary 

After the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, people found that many buildings were not safe. The government is spending over £5 billion to help fix these buildings. Big housebuilders have also said they will help to fix the homes they built. The government will make sure anyone who does not act to fix their buildings is held responsible. 

When buildings are being worked on, it can be hard for the people who live there. It can be noisy, messy, and stressful. But if the work is planned well and done with care, it can be much better. The Code explains how building repairs should be done. It helps make sure the work is safe and fair to the people living in the building. Everyone working on a project should follow the Code. We will check that projects follow the Code and act if needed. 

When working on buildings, the work should be completed safely and with respect for others. Residents should be told what is happening and who to contact with questions.

Lots of people helped write the Code, including residents, builders, landlords, and government workers. It uses their experience to give useful advice.

The Code is for anyone working on a project. It explains what they should do and what residents should expect. Some of the rules and advice come from other places. They are put together here to show what is expected. Companies that make life harder for residents are not doing what is right. 

The Code will be updated if new things come up. 

Summary - What projects should do 

Projects should make sure: 

1.1 - Everyone working on the project knows what their job is and records it. This includes jobs linked to the Code.

2.1 - Residents get regular updates about the work and are listened to. People in charge should explain how and when residents will be updated.

2.2 - Steps are taken to find out what residents need. 

2.3 - Residents can help make decisions when possible. 

2.4 - Residents can meet the project leaders before work starts. 

2.5 - Information is shared in ways that work for residents. 

2.6 - Residents know how to ask questions or make complaints. 

3.1 - Residents are included, where possible, when planning and doing the project. If things change, they should still be included. Each project should find out how the work affects residents and help them if needed. 

3.2 - Steps are taken to keep noise from bothering residents. 

3.3 - Steps are taken to avoid blocking natural light or fresh air. If there is little choice, the time should be kept as short as possible. 

3.4 - Steps are taken to make sure any work that needs to happen inside people’s homes or shared spaces is done carefully and with consideration.  

3.5 - Steps are taken to keep the building and everyone in it safe and secure. 

3.6 - If residents need to leave their homes for building works to happen, it is made as easy as possible.  

4.1 - Steps are taken to show that the rules are being followed. This means that residents and others can see that everyone is doing what they should. 

Part 1 – What the Code is for 

 
The Code covers work to help fix fire safety problems on outside walls. These problems could make fires spread more easily, so it is important to fix them. The Code is mainly for big buildings where lots of people live. Some of it can also be used for other similar projects.

Projects should follow the Code from the start, when an expert says work is needed It should be followed until the work is done and checked. This includes if the building has people in it or not.

Projects should make it clear who is responsible for checking that everyone follows it.

1.1 - Everyone working on the project knows what their job is and records it. This includes jobs linked to the Code. 

Reason: People who build, check, fix, or look after buildings should follow the Code. If they ask others to help, those helpers should be trained, told what the job is and follow the Code. 

Working on buildings can be difficult. Everyone’s job should be clear so people can work better together. 

Guide: When deciding roles, these people and groups should be thought about:

• people who own the building
• developers
• property managers and designers
• residents who help manage the building
• people who live there, including renters and landlords
• workers on site

‘Residents’ means anyone who lives in the building, whether they rent or own their home. It can also mean people who own their home but do not live there. 

Part 2 – Working on buildings with care 

This part explains how residents should be thought about when work is planned and takes place. 

2.1 - Residents get regular updates about the work and are listened to. People in charge should explain how and when residents will be updated. 

Reason: Residents should know what will happen and when. They should also be able to share their ideas. This helps everyone feel involved and work better together. 

Guide: When planning how to engage and share information, the people in charge should think about: 

• telling residents who is in charge of sharing updates
• making sure these are up to date
• making sure different groups get the information they need. For example, renters and owners
• giving residents someone they can contact
• checking in often, especially if there are big changes or problems
• thinking about how tall the building is and who lives there
• finding out if any groups are helping residents
• making sure everyone can understand, including people who do not speak English or have hearing or sight impairments
• avoiding confusing words
• using summaries with more information if needed
• using digital, paper or in person ways to get in touch

2.2 - Steps are taken to find out what residents need.

Reason: People in charge should learn about the needs of residents. Some people might need extra help or have concerns. Knowing this before the work starts helps make the work easier for everyone. 

Guide: When learning about what residents need, the people in charge should think about: 

• following 2.1
• asking if anyone has needs or worries
• using what they learn to make better plans
• talking to residents early to build trust

2.3 - Residents can help make decisions when possible.

Reason: Residents should have the chance to be a part of the project. Even if they cannot help make choices, their needs should be thought about. 

Guide: When planning how to talk and listen to residents, the people in charge should think about: 

• following 2.1 and 2.2
• how residents will be involved during the whole project
• how to help residents share their feedback
• speaking to groups that are helping residents
• sharing information early so residents can understand
• explaining decisions clearly, even if residents were not part of them
• how they will follow the law and safety rules

2.4 - Residents can meet the project leaders before work starts.

Reason: Residents should meet those working on their building. This should happen before the work starts. It helps build trust and gives residents a chance to ask questions. 

Guide: When planning and running a meeting, the people in charge should think about:

• following 2.1
• planning the meeting early
• making it easy to join
• taking notes and sharing them
• giving residents helpful information before the meeting. This helps them know what to ask

2.5 - Information is shared in ways that work for residents.

Reason: Good engagement throughout the project helps residents to understand. It also gives space to ask questions.  

Guide: To share information in a helpful way, the people in charge should think about: 

• following 2.1
• using different ways to share updates
• asking residents how they like to get information

2.6 - Residents know how to ask questions or make complaints.

Reason: Residents should know how to ask questions or say if something is wrong. It helps fix problems quickly. It also helps keep everyone safe and informed. 

Guide: When setting up ways for residents to ask questions, share problems or make complaints, the people in charge should think about: 

• following 1.1 and 2.1
• sharing a guide about how questions, issues and complaints will be looked at
• making a clear plan for answering questions, issues and complaints. This should say when residents will hear back
• making sure messages from residents quickly reach the right people
• letting residents know who else they can talk to

Part 3 – Living with building works 

Building works can be noisy, messy, and sometimes stressful for the people who live there. This part of the Code helps make sure the work is done carefully and with consideration for everyone.  

3.1 - Residents are included, where possible, when planning and doing the project. If things change, they should still be included. Each project should find out how the work affects residents and help them if needed.

Reason: A trained person must make the final decisions. This is to keep everyone safe. People who live there should still be heard and have a chance to raise issues. This helps to support residents’ needs. 

Guide: If something affects residents, the people in charge should think about: 

• telling residents what the work will be like before it starts
• telling residents the steps taken to reduce problems
• telling residents what they could do to help
• asking residents about what they would like
• keeping noisy or messy work short and covering a small area, where possible
• checking to make sure there are not too many problems
• listening to feedback and making changes if needed
• being aware of residents who have disabilities or health conditions
• training workers to be kind and respectful around people’s homes

3.2 - Steps are taken to keep noise from bothering residents. 

Reason: Building works will create noise. This sometimes cannot be helped. People working on projects should try to reduce noise. This is important when people are living in the building during works. 

Guide: When planning how to reduce loud noise, the people in charge should think about: 

• following 3.1
• doing noisy work elsewhere if possible
• measuring noise and asking residents how it feels
• setting quiet times and breaks
• giving residents a quiet space
• planning noisy work in stages

3.3 - Steps are taken to avoid blocking natural light or fresh air. If there is little choice, the time should be kept as short as possible. 

Reason: Workers may need to get to the outside walls to help fix buildings. This means they might use things like lifts. These can affect how people live, so it is important to think carefully about them.

It is easier to explain why access is needed. It can be harder to explain why the building needs to be covered and for how long. Sometimes, health and safety rules mean the building must be covered to stop dust or protect it from bad weather.

When thinking about how to cover the building and for how long, the people in charge should think about how it might affect residents’ health and feelings. They should write this down. 

Guide: The people working on the building should think about how to follow safety rules while reducing problems for residents. They should also think about costs and timings. Residents should be part of these talks. Their opinions should be listened to.

To help residents get as much fresh air and natural light as possible, the people in charge should think about: 

• following 3.1
• keeping covers on buildings for the shortest time possible
• removing covers when they are no longer needed
• using see-through or mesh covers instead of solid ones
• using other tools instead of scaffolding, such as cherry pickers
• planning scaffolding so windows can still open
• making sure emergency services can still get in if needed

3.4 - Steps are taken to make sure any work that needs to happen inside people’s homes or shared spaces is done carefully and with consideration.  

Reason: Work may need to take place in or near people’s homes and shared areas. This may also have an effect on areas residents use, like parking. It is important that work is done with care. 

Guide: To make sure work in or near homes is done respectfully, the people in charge should think about: 

• following 3.1
• finding other places for things like parking if needed
• giving plenty of notice before entering homes
• keeping areas open as much as possible
• teaching workers the right way to work in homes. This includes rules for private things like taking pictures
• helping stop people going where they should not
• letting residents know how to report problems

3.5 - Steps are taken to keep the building and everyone in it safe and secure. 

Reason: People’s safety is the most important part of projects. Living in a building while it is being worked on means people might be near hazards. Care is needed. 

Guide: When planning and doing repair work, projects should make sure that: 

• all work follows health and safety rules
• keep fire exits clear. If something blocks a fire exit for a short time, make sure there is a clear path to another fire exit that is not blocked, and the fire exit signs point to this temporary exit
• fire safety plans are updated often

When making sure people and the building are safe, those in charge should think about: 

• following 3.1
• telling residents how to stay safe during the work
• fixing safety problems quickly
• reporting and recording safety problems
• making sure workers look out for anything dangerous
• keeping the site clean and tidy
• speaking to others who need to know about security
• using security tools like cameras, alarms, and ID badges
• telling residents about any problems
• telling residents how to get help if they feel unsafe

3.6 - If residents need to leave their homes for building works to happen, it is made as easy as possible. 

Reason: Sometimes, residents might need to leave their homes while work is being done. This should only happen if there’s no other choice. Leaving home, even for a short time, can be hard. It should only happen when really needed, and for as little time as possible. 

Guide: If people have to leave their home while work is being done, the people in charge should follow 3.1. They should take steps to keep residents up to date. 

Part 4 – Following the Code 

4.1 - Steps are taken to show the rules are being followed. This means that residents and others can see that everyone is doing what they should. 

Reason: Everyone working on the building should follow the Code from start to finish. Everyone should know the rules and work together to follow them. The people in charge should check the rules are being followed. They should show proof if asked. 

Guide: People in charge should think about: 

• making sure everyone involved in the project knows their job
• making sure everyone involved knows how to treat residents
• thinking about the Code when planning the project
• asking residents how things are going
• fixing any problems
• carrying out reviews, visiting the building and seeing how things can be made better
• sharing this information with residents
• keeping a record of what has been done to follow the Code, including how residents were thought about

Safety during works

There are some key points that residents should know about how a project has been planned to make their building safe.

Those working on projects must: 

• plan to safely replace dangerous materials
• find out about the building
• use surveys to check what was put on the building
• ask trained people to look at fire and safety risks
• make sure there are safety steps in place before starting work
• check and update fire safety plans
• check and update emergency plans

People living in the building should be told: 

• who will tell them about the work
• who they can go to with questions
• how they will be kept safe
• what to do if there is a fire
• what should not happen, like trespassing, burning waste, or storing unsafe cladding
• who to tell if they see something wrong (who should then take action)
• who to call when the site team is not there
• that they have the option to report health and safety problems to the Health and Safety Executive

Want to know more? 

Read more in the guidance called:

Managing fire risk during cladding and insulation removal and replacement on high-rise buildings – guidance for inspectors