We consulted residents across seven of our High Risk Buildings (HRBs) in London to understand how they want to receive building safety information and how they want to be involved in decisions about their homes. This forms part of our responsibilities under the Building Safety Act 2022 and is a key step in shaping our Building Safety Resident Engagement Plans.
Across these buildings, over 280 households received the consultation. Dozens of residents shared their views, offering valuable insight into what matters most to them.
What is a HRB?
A high-risk building (or "higher-risk building" - HRB) in England is generally defined under the Building Safety Act 2022 as a building at least 18 metres in height or having at least 7 storeys, which contains at least two residential units.
Who took part
- Consultations covered seven High Risk Buildings (HRBs) across London.
- In total, these buildings represent over 280 households invited to participate.
- Engagement varied by building, from one response in the least‑engaged building to 14 responses in the most engaged.
- The highest response rate was 45%, with 10 out of 24 households replying in one building.
What Residents Told Us
Residents want clearer, more accessible building safety information
Across almost all buildings, residents said they want simple, easy‑to‑understand information about:
- How their building is built
- What safety works are happening
- What Abri is responsible for
- What residents are responsible for
- How often equipment like Lifts, sprinklers and water systems is checked
- Short summaries of the Fire Risk Assessment
Residents in several buildings said they do not always receive this information consistently and want better clarity, transparency and regular updates.
They also had questions about:
- CCTV and security
- Fire doors and evacuation procedures
- Cladding work and timelines
- How contractors are selected
- Maintenance issues that may affect safety
Overall, residents want trustworthy, straightforward information that helps them feel safe where they live.
Most residents prefer communication through letters and noticeboards
A strong theme across all buildings was a preference for paper‑based communication, especially:
- Letters or newsletters delivered to their homes
- Posters or notices in communal areas
This suggests that many residents value clear, offline, easily accessible communication—particularly in buildings with older or more digitally excluded residents.
Residents want updates when something changes, not just yearly
Across buildings, most residents said they prefer updates:
- Whenever something changes within their building
Some residents also requested:
- Large‑print information
- Translated versions
- Audio formats
Residents want meaningful involvement in decisions
Across every building, residents consistently said:
- They want to be consulted when there are options around decision‑making
- They want Abri to follow the majority view
- They want their feedback to influence future decisions
Comments included:
- “Residents’ voices are vital.”
- “We need clearer consultation.”
- “Feedback needs to lead to action.”
- “Not all disabilities are visible — explain things clearly.”
- “I am in favour of decisions being taken with consultations with the residents and would like to have a say. Having choices makes enables residents to choose something that suits their building needs.”
- “Residents can be best listened to when feedback leads to visible action and timely responses."
Interest in resident panels varies, but building‑specific panels are strongly supported
Across all buildings, interest in joining a building‑specific panel was higher than interest in a panel shared across all HRBs.
Residents told us they prefer:
- Focused, building‑level discussions
- Topics directly related to their home
- Local involvement rather than cross‑building groups
What Happens Next
Across our seven London HRBs, residents have clearly told us what they need. Their insight will shape how we communicate, consult and involve them in building safety decisions. We’ve used their feedback to shape our Resident Engagement Strategies so that they are tailored and bespoke to each individual building.