Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (Residential PEEPs).

Information for Business Owners and Responsible Persons
 

From 6 April 2026, new legal duties come into force under the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025. These changes introduce clear responsibilities for Responsible Persons (building owners, managers, landlords, and those in control of residential premises) to ensure the safe evacuation of residents who may struggle to self‑evacuate in the event of fire.

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These duties apply to high‑rise and higher‑risk residential buildings and aim to improve the safety of disabled and vulnerable residents. For more information on Residential PEEPs please click here.

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Is My Building in Scope?

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The regulations apply to residential buildings in England that:

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• Contain two or more domestic premises, and:

  • Are 18 metres or more in height, or have 7 or more storeys, OR

  • Are more than 11 metres in height and operate a simultaneous evacuation strategy. 

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If your building meets these criteria, the new duties apply to you as the Responsible Person.

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Who Are Relevant Residents?

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A relevant resident is someone:

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• For whom the premises is their only or principal residence, and

• Who may not be able to evacuate unaided due to:

  • Physical mobility issues

  • Sensory impairments (e.g., sight or hearing loss)

  • Cognitive conditions or disabilities

  • Other factors affecting their ability to self‑evacuate

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All participation in the Residential PEEP process requires the resident’s explicit consent. 

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Your Legal Responsibilities as a Responsible Person

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1. Identify Residents Who May Need Support

You must take reasonable steps to determine whether any residents may have difficulty evacuating without assistance. This can include:

• Information voluntarily shared by residents

• Existing fire risk assessment knowledge

• Observations and interactions as part of normal building management processes

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2. Offer and Conduct a Person‑Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA)

Where a resident accepts your offer, you must ensure a Person‑Centred Fire Risk Assessment is completed.
This assessment should consider:

• The resident’s individual risks

• Their specific needs and limitations

• What reasonable and proportionate measures can be introduced to mitigate risk

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3. Produce an Emergency Evacuation Statement

Following the PCFRA, you must create a written statement for the resident setting out:

• What the resident should do in the event of a fire

• The measures in place to support their evacuation

• Any assistive technology or safety equipment relevant to them 

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This document should be clear, accessible, and kept up to date.

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4. Share Prescribed Information with the Fire and Rescue Service

With the resident’s consent, you must share key information with your local Fire & Rescue Service so crews understand:

• Where vulnerable residents live

• What support they may need during evacuation or rescue operations

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Information must be shared in a secure, accurate, and timely way.

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5. Maintain Accurate Records

You must maintain and safely store:

• Completed PCFRAs

• Emergency evacuation statements

• Records of resident consent

• Copies of any information shared with the Fire Service

• Dates of reviews and updates

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6. Review and Update Plans Regularly

Residential PEEPs and emergency evacuation statements must be reviewed:

• At least annually,

• When a resident’s needs change, or

• When changes to building layout, procedures, or equipment affect evacuation arrangements.

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Why Are These Changes Being Introduced?

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These duties follow recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which highlighted significant gaps in evacuation planning for disabled and vulnerable residents. The Government’s aim is to ensure:

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• Better planning and support

• Fairer, safer outcomes for residents requiring assistance

• Improved operational response for Fire & Rescue Services

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Support for Responsible Persons

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The Government provides a range of guidance and tools to help you comply, including:

• Residential PEEPs: Factsheet

• Guidance for Responsible Persons

• Responsible Persons Toolkit

• Impact Assessment
  (All available via GOV.UK) 

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Need Help or Advice?

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Your local Fire & Rescue Service can offer guidance on implementing Residential PEEPs and meeting your legal duties.

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If you manage or own a residential building and require support, please contact our Business Fire Safety Team:

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FireSafety1@northumberland.gov.uk