Resident Directors' Legal Responsibilities in 2025: What You Really Need to Know
Key Points
- Being a resident director means more than fixing things
- The Building Safety Act 2022 holds you directly accountable for compliance and records
- Keeping residents engaged and informed is a legal obligation now, not just good practice
- The right tools make it possible—don't try to do it all by hand
Introduction
Resident directors are legally responsible for ensuring a building meets all the health, safety, and compliance requirements set out in the Building Safety Act 2022. It goes far beyond fixing what's broken—now it's about proper records, ongoing compliance, and making safety personal for everyone in your building.
How did I learn what's really at stake?
When I first took the role, it felt pretty ordinary: chase quotes, approve a repair, keep things ticking over. That all changed after the Building Safety Act. The turning point for us was an unexpected crisis with our FRAEW (Fire Risk Assessment of External Walls). Suddenly, it wasn't just about maintenance—it was about understanding terms like Accountable Person and Resident Engagement Strategy.
Some directors quit because the pressure was just too much. For those of us who stayed, it meant learning quickly. We realised that being a resident director now carries real legal weight, and ignorance is no longer an excuse.
What are resident directors legally responsible for now?
The Building Safety Act 2022 has fundamentally changed what it means to be a resident director. Here are the key areas where you now have clear legal responsibilities:
1. Fire and structural safety: You must identify risks and ensure robust measures are in place.
2. Registration and up-to-date records: If your building is 18m+ or has seven or more storeys, you must register it with the Building Safety Regulator and keep your documentation up to date.
3. Informing residents: Regularly communicate new risks, changes, and actions.
4. Risk assessments and professional advice: Get them done, act quickly, and make sure every action is logged—not just 'remembered.'
5. Transparent governance: Keep track of decisions, votes, and who did what. Accountability isn't optional.
How did we adapt and stay in control?
After the wake-up call, everything shifted. We stopped patching things last minute. We prioritised, got better at communicating with residents, and focused on what mattered. The biggest lesson? Almost every piece of property software is designed for managing agents, not resident directors.
We built Blocwise because we knew there had to be a better way—one where we could stay compliant, confident, and fully in control of our own building.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Building Safety Act 2022?
The Building Safety Act 2022 is UK legislation that introduced stricter safety and compliance requirements for residential buildings, particularly high-rise buildings. It holds building owners and resident directors directly accountable for safety standards.
Do these responsibilities apply to all buildings?
The most stringent requirements apply to buildings that are 18 metres or taller, or have seven or more storeys. However, all residential buildings have some level of safety and compliance obligations.
What happens if I don't comply?
Non-compliance can result in legal penalties, fines, and in serious cases, criminal prosecution. More importantly, it puts residents at risk and can affect property values and insurance.
How can Blocwise help with legal compliance?
Blocwise is designed specifically for resident directors to manage compliance requirements, track documents, set reminders for renewals, maintain governance records, and communicate with residents—all in one place.
Being a resident director means more than fixing things. The Building Safety Act 2022 holds you directly accountable for compliance and records. The right tools make it possible—don't try to do it all by hand.