(1)The regulator may issue guidance about any of the following matters—
(a)the performance of any duties under section 87 (mandatory reporting requirements);
(b)the performance of any duties under section 88 or 89 (duty to keep or give information);
(c)the performance of any duties under section 92 (duty to give further information to residents);
(d)the performance of any duties under section 93 (complaints procedure).
(2)The regulator may revise or withdraw any issued guidance.
(3)Where in any proceedings it is alleged that a person has contravened a provision mentioned in subsection (1)—
(a)proof of a failure to comply with any applicable guidance may be relied on as tending to establish that there was such a contravention, and
(b)proof of compliance with any applicable guidance may be relied on as tending to establish that there was no such contravention.
(4)In any proceedings, a document purporting to be guidance under this section is to be taken to be such guidance unless the contrary is proved.
(5)Guidance under this section may be issued, revised or withdrawn only with the consent of the Secretary of State.
(6)In this section any reference to a provision includes regulations made under the provision.
(1)Subsection (2) applies if there is more than one accountable person for an occupied higher-risk building.
(2)When carrying out their duties under, or under regulations made under, this Part, each accountable person must so far as possible—
(a)cooperate with every other accountable person for the building, and
(b)coordinate with every other accountable person for the building.
(3)Subsection (4) applies to an accountable person for an occupied higher-risk building if there are one or more other persons who are responsible persons within the meaning of article 3 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in relation to the building.
(4)The accountable person must cooperate with each responsible person for the purpose of each responsible person carrying out their duties under the Order.
(1)Section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (appointment of a manager by a tribunal) is amended as follows.
(2)After subsection (2ZA) insert—
“(2ZB)Subsection (2)(a) does not apply in respect of a breach of a building safety obligation by an accountable person for a higher-risk building.
(2ZC)In this section—
“accountable person” has the meaning given in section 72 of the Building Safety Act 2022;
“building safety obligation” means an obligation of an accountable person under Part 4 of the Building Safety Act 2022 or regulations made under that Part;
“higher-risk building” has the meaning given in section 65 of the Building Safety Act 2022.”
(3)After subsection (2D) (inserted by paragraph 8(3) of Schedule 7) insert—
“(2E)An order under this section may not provide for a manager to carry out a function in relation to a higher-risk building where Part 4 of the Building Safety Act 2022 or regulations made under that Part provide for that function to be carried out by an accountable person for that building.”
(1)This section applies in relation to a resident management company that is an accountable person for a higher-risk building.
(2)The articles of association of the resident management company have effect as if they included such provision as may be prescribed relating to—
(a)eligibility for appointment as a director of the company, for a building safety purpose;
(b)the appointment of a director for such a purpose;
(c)the entitlement to remuneration of a director appointed for such a purpose;
(d)the removal of a director so appointed.
(3)Subsection (2) has effect—
(a)whether or not the provision is adopted by the company;
(b)whether the company was formed before or after the coming into force of this section;
(c)notwithstanding anything in the company’s articles of association.
(4)In this section—
“building safety purpose” means the purpose of supporting the resident management company in complying with its duties under this Part or under regulations made under this Part;
“resident management company” has the meaning given by regulations made by the Secretary of State.