Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025: How POD Is Leading Proactive Compliance Ahead of April 2026
The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 represent one of the most significant changes to residential fire safety management in a generation - fundamentally reshaping how vulnerable residents are identified, assessed, and supported in an emergency.
Passed by Parliament in July 2025 and now confirmed to come into force on 6 April 2026, the Regulations introduce new statutory duties for Responsible Persons, building on lessons learned from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and reinforcing the Government’s wider programme of building safety reform.
At POD, fire and building safety have long been central to our operational culture. Over the past seven months, our Safety Team has undertaken a detailed review of the Regulations, evolving and enhancing existing systems to ensure POD clients are not only compliant by April 2026, but demonstrably ahead of the curve.
The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 Framework
The Regulations introduce a formal, nationally defined framework for identifying residents who may not be able to evacuate independently during a fire and ensuring that personalised evacuation planning is in place.
They apply to specified residential buildings in England, including:
High-rise residential buildings (18 metres or seven storeys and above), and
Residential buildings over 11 metres where a simultaneous evacuation strategy is used.
For the first time, there is a clear legal obligation to move beyond generic evacuation advice and adopt a person-centred approach that reflects individual needs, abilities, and communication preferences.
An Evolution for POD
Importantly, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 do not represent an upheaval in direction for POD.
Well before the Regulations were introduced, POD already operated structured processes designed to:
Encourage residents to disclose evacuation-related needs
Maintain visibility of vulnerable residents
Embed evacuation planning into building-specific fire strategies
Ensure strong governance and life-safety oversight
These arrangements were supported by established resident communication touchpoints and clear escalation routes within our wider health and safety management framework.
As a result, the Regulations formalise and standardise practices that POD had already embedded, allowing us to focus on refinement and enhancement rather than starting from scratch.
What Has Changed and How the Regulations Work in Practice
While the underlying principles of resident safety and evacuation planning will be familiar, the Regulations introduce a nationally defined and legally enforceable framework that formalises how vulnerable residents are identified, assessed, and supported.
Key changes include the introduction of mandatory Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments (PCFRAs) for residents who may not be able to evacuate independently, alongside a legal requirement to develop, maintain, and regularly review Personal Emergency Evacuation Statements (PEESs). These requirements move evacuation planning away from generic guidance and toward personalised, resident-specific arrangements.
The Regulations also establish a structured approach to secure record keeping, regular review, and - where resident consent is provided - information sharing with Fire and Rescue Services. From April 2026, this nationally consistent framework replaces previously varied or inconsistent approaches, strengthening accountability and ensuring evacuation planning is robust and resident-focused.
In practical terms, the Responsible Persons must identify Relevant Residents (those whose ability to evacuate may be compromised due to physical, sensory, or cognitive impairment) and follow a clear four-step process:
Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments (PCFRAs): Individual assessments of the resident’s apartment and circumstances, considering vulnerabilities, environmental factors, and fire-related risks.
Personal Emergency Evacuation Statements (PEESs): Developed collaboratively with residents, setting out how they will be alerted, what assistance or equipment is required, who will assist, and how evacuation will be managed safely.
Record Keeping and Information Sharing: Secure, accurate, and up-to-date records that are reviewed regularly and, where consent is provided, shared with Fire and Rescue Services and integrated into building evacuation arrangements.
Accessible Information: Evacuation information provided in appropriate and accessible formats, ensuring residents understand what action to take in an emergency.
POD’s Proactive Approach and Digital Evolution
POD has treated the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 as an opportunity to strengthen and future-proof existing best practice.
Our systems have been:
Fully digitised end-to-end, from assessment through to review and audit
Integrated into existing resident communication and building management platforms
Designed to provide clear audit trails, regulatory traceability, and data security
Crucially, POD’s established resident engagement processes mean evacuation planning is not an unfamiliar concept. Instead, we are building on existing awareness, reinforcing responsibilities, and enhancing clarity.
Ensuring Compliance Across Our Portfolio
POD has been actively preparing for these Regulations since the early consultation stages. Our approach applies consistent standards across all managed buildings while ensuring proportionate controls based on risk and regulatory scope.
Where buildings fall within the definition of specified residential buildings, enhanced assurance and compliance measures are applied, ensuring clear differentiation between statutory obligations and broader best practice.
Our Five-Phase Action Plan
To ensure full compliance ahead of April 2026, POD has implemented a structured five-phase programme:
Phase 1: Building and Data Review
Identifying buildings in scope and reviewing existing vulnerability data.
Phase 2: Resident Engagement
Using established communication channels to confirm, update, or newly disclose evacuation needs.
Phase 3: Assessment and Statement Development
Undertaking PCFRAs and developing PEESs in collaboration with residents.
Phase 4: Integration and Assurance
Embedding updated information into evacuation strategies and liaising with Fire & Rescue Services where appropriate.
Phase 5: Ongoing Review
Annual and triggered reviews, supported by continuous audit and compliance monitoring.
For our clients, these processes mean:
Regulatory confidence ahead of April 2026
Continuity built on proven systems
Enhanced resident safety through personalised planning
Transparent, auditable records
Reduced liability through proactive compliance
The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 formalise a direction of travel that POD has long embraced. By enhancing established best practice rather than replacing it, POD is well positioned to deliver compliant, proportionate, and effective evacuation planning that puts resident safety first.
For more information on the new regulations, read our client briefing document here.
Contact Us
At POD, we’re always ahead of the curve. Whether you have questions about new legislation, or you’d like to know how we can assist in the smooth running of your development in 2026, our team would love to help:
Fill out our business enquiry form
Email us at relationships@podmanagement.co.uk
Call us on 0333 577 6656
We look forward to hearing from you!