New legislation for people living in high rise buildings took effect in April 2026, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service has said. The service states that the change is a result of recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
The service has published information for occupants of high rise buildings following the new legislation1. Its community safety pages carry a dedicated section headed "Fire safety legislation for high rises: advice for occupants", described as "Information for people living in high rise buildings following new legislation in April 2026, a result of Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations"1.
"Information for people living in high rise buildings following new legislation in April 2026, a result of Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations."
The service's community safety pages are marked as reviewed on 24 Aug 20261. The same pages set out a separate change to the way the service responds to Automatic Fire Alarms in residential and domestic properties, stating: "We're changing the way we respond to Automatic Fire Alarms in residential and domestic properties"1. No further detail on that change, including its start date, has been reported on the pages reviewed.
The service also offers home visits, described as a service where staff can visit a resident, a loved one or someone they care for at home to give personalised fire safety advice. The service states: "It's totally free, available 24/7, and we will even fit free smoke alarms during the visit if you need them"1.
| Item | Detail as published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Legislation | New law for people living in high rise buildings, from Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations | 1 |
| Date in effect | April 2026 | 1 |
| Published by | Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, Surrey County Council | 1 |
| Page reviewed | 24 Aug 2026 | 1 |
| Related change | New response to Automatic Fire Alarms in residential and domestic properties | 1 |
Why it matters for households
The change applies to people living in high rise buildings, from April 20261. The published information is aimed at occupants of those buildings and sits within the service's community safety pages, alongside its home fire safety, detector and "what to do if fire breaks out" guidance1. Households in high rise buildings in Surrey are the audience the service addresses directly; the pages reviewed do not set out how the legislation applies outside Surrey or list the specific duties it places on occupants. The service's stated offer of a free home visit, available 24/7, with free smoke alarms fitted during the visit where needed, remains on its pages1.
What happens next
The service's community safety pages carry a review date of 24 Aug 20261. No further dates for guidance updates or for the change to Automatic Fire Alarm responses have been reported on the pages reviewed. Households can find wider background on emergency planning in the uk-preparedness hub.
Sources (1)
- Community safety (Surrey Fire and Rescue) - Surrey County Council, surreycc.gov.uk
