1 in 5 residents stated they are concerned about the health and safety of the building they live in
A new national survey has revealed London is the UK region most concerned about the safety and maintenance of local buildings with over two-thirds (69%) of London residents expressing concern.
Alarmingly, 1 in 5 London residents stated they feel concerned about the health and safety of the building they live in. Concerns included issues such as mould, poor ventilation and structural issues, highlighting the government’s need to prioritise residential building safety in the area.
The 2024 Building Safety Report, conducted by SFG20, the industry standard for building maintenance, surveyed 1,500 people across 15 UK cities to highlight their perceptions of the safety and maintenance of local buildings in their area.
Manchester was the second-highest region to express concerns around the safety and maintenance of their local buildings, with 58% of residents expressing concern. This was closely followed by Leicester and Birmingham.
The report comes after the UK government has faced increased scrutiny following incidents such as the Grenfell Tower fire. 3 in 5 survey respondents shared that they are now more concerned about building safety in London following the incident, with 29% stating their worries have ‘significantly increased’.
Concerns were raised over the government’s efforts to maintain and improve safety of buildings in the UK. The findings revealed a quarter of London residents were dissatisfied with the government’s efforts to maintain and improve public buildings in London, and 30% distrust that public buildings in London are safe in accordance with current building safety standards.
Jason Instrell, Industry Lead at SFG20, shared his thoughts on the survey’s findings:
“It is concerning to see the proportion of the British public concerned with the safety of buildings. Over the last decade, the UK has seen a string of events that have placed the maintenance of local infrastructure under a particularly intense spotlight, in particular the Grenfell Tower fire incident. The introduction of the Building Safety Act in 2022 saw stricter rules on the safety of buildings, and it remains the UK government’s responsibility to ensure the public feels safe and educated about the maintenance of these buildings.”