From 6th April 2026, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 will come into force.
These new Regulations require Responsible Persons to identify residents who may need help evacuating in a fire and to take steps to support them. Central to this requirement is the introduction of Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (Residential PEEPS); a vital new layer of protection for vulnerable residents living in multi-occupied residential buildings.
For many property owners and managing agents, this represents one of the most significant changes to fire safety management since the Building Safety Act. It also signals a shift in accountability; from general compliance to demonstrable competence and inclusion.
At Ark Workplace Risk, we believe the organisations that act now to embed robust, inclusive evacuation planning will not only meet regulation, but also build stronger, safer and more trusted communities.
Understanding Residential PEEPS; the essentials
Residential PEEPS are individual evacuation plans for residents who may need additional support to leave a building safely during an emergency.
Under the new Regulations, Responsible Persons and Accountable Persons must:
- Identify residents who may require assistance in evacuating.
- Assess the type and level of help they might need.
- Develop and document a suitable Residential PEEP for each identified resident.
- Communicate, train and test those arrangements regularly.
This formalises a process that, until now, has been inconsistent across the residential sector. It also places renewed emphasis on coordination between building owners, managing agents, fire safety professionals and residents themselves.
Why this matters now
The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) Regulations 2025 are the latest step in the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and part of the wider reform of building and fire safety legislation.
Together with the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, they reinforce a simple principle:
Every resident, regardless of circumstance, deserves a safe means of escape; and every Responsible Person must be able to prove they can provide it.
Failure to do so will not only carry regulatory implications but could also affect an organisation’s insurability, reputation and social licence to operate.
Common challenges we’re seeing across the sector
In recent months, Ark has spoken to dozens of residential property owners, housing associations and managing agents preparing for the new regime. The same challenges consistently emerge:
- Unclear responsibilities; uncertainty over who should lead and maintain Residential PEEPS, particularly in complex ownership or management structures.
- Resident engagement barriers; difficulty identifying vulnerable residents and gaining consent to collect personal data.
- Inconsistent recording and follow-up; poor visibility of who has a PEEP, when it was last updated, and whether testing has occurred.
- Resource pressure; limited internal capacity to develop, review and evidence PEEPS at scale.
- Fragmented systems; information stored in multiple spreadsheets, emails and contractor reports.
These challenges are precisely where competence, structure and technology become essential, and where Ark can help.
What good looks like: turning compliance into readiness
A compliant Residential PEEP framework is not a standalone policy, it’s a living, operational system that integrates across your wider Building Safety and Fire Safety strategies.
Best practice includes:
- Integration: embedding Residential PEEPS within Fire Risk Assessments, Building Safety Cases and the golden thread of information.
- Competence: engaging qualified fire safety professionals with demonstrable expertise in evacuation planning and inclusive design.
- Technology: using secure digital platforms like QUOODA® to manage, monitor and update PEEPS across entire property portfolios.
- Engagement: proactive communication and consultation with residents, particularly those requiring assistance.
- Review and validation: periodic testing of evacuation plans and formal review following resident or building changes.
Ark’s approach to Residential PEEPS
For over 30 years, Ark Workplace Risk has been at the forefront of empowering property owners, managing agents and housing providers achieve safer, more resilient buildings.
Our Fire Safety team delivers:
- Residential and Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments (PCFRAs) aligned with the forthcoming Residential PEEPS regulations.
- Evacuation strategy development and testing for complex or high-risk residential buildings.
- Fire door, compartmentation and emergency preparedness reviews to validate safe egress routes.
- Training and workshops for Responsible Persons, dutyholders and onsite teams.
- Digital PEEP management via QUOODA®, ensuring consistent documentation, version control and audit readiness.
- Strategic assurance reviews to help executive teams benchmark compliance and competence.
Our approach is built on one simple principle: Your assurance is our accountability.
“Residential PEEPS are about more than compliance; they’re about accountability, humanity and trust.
As an industry, we have a shared responsibility to ensure that every resident, regardless of their circumstances, can feel and be safe in their home.
The most successful organisations will be those who see this not as another requirement to manage, but as an opportunity to strengthen relationships with residents, regulators and insurers through transparency and competence.”
The bigger picture; from compliance to competence
The introduction of Residential PEEPS marks a critical turning point in UK fire safety culture. It reinforces that compliance is no longer enough, the benchmark is competence.
The organisations that succeed under this new framework will be those that view Residential PEEPS not as an administrative exercise, but as a reflection of their values and duty of care.
Because at its heart, this isn’t about paperwork.
It’s about people, and ensuring that when an alarm sounds, every resident has a plan, not just hope.
Next steps
If you’re unsure whether your buildings are ready for the new Residential PEEPS requirements, Ark can help.
Book a confidential consultation with our Fire Safety experts to assess your readiness.