Building Safety Act

Herrington Carmichael is a full service law firm offering legal advice to UK and international businesses as well as individuals and families.
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Building Safety Act

Our specialist construction team have a wealth of experience in advising on a wide array of legal issues on construction projects. We can advise you in relation to all aspects of the Building Safety Act (BSA) and any new rafts of regulations which implement and support the BSA and on how it may impact your project or your business.

We can help you to navigate the BSA’s complexities, ensure compliance with the regulations, as well as assist in drafting contracts which cater for any developments within the legal and regulatory sphere.

Whether you are starting out in the construction industry or are an experienced property developer, our understanding of the market and law means we are able to apply a legal, commercial and contractually sound perspective to our support and advice.

Key contact

Cesare McArdle PNG
Cesare McArdle
Partner

What our clients say about us

The firm has a wealth of knowledge and experience and is able to handle all types of issues that I have presented to them. They are easy to contact and you certainly feel looked after and that you are in capable hands.
Stephen Baker is an experienced and commercially astute litigator, who is dedicated to the interests of his clients and has the ability to deal with the most demanding and difficult of clients while still retaining a cheerful and engaged demeanour.

The Real Estate team at Herrington Carmichael were excellent in dealing with this transaction, they delivered their expertise in a pragmatic and commercial way maintaining a professional and responsive approach throughout. They provided clear, commercially informed guidance, and took a highly structured approach to coordinating the requirements of our lender, the transaction as a whole and our development strategy. I'd like to thank Liz and the team for all their support in helping the Chartwell Group successfully complete the transaction. We really appreciated their guidance and look forward to working with them again in the future

Rob Anderson Managing Director at Chartwell Land and New Homes
Chartwell Land and New Homes
The team at Herrington Carmichael are responsive and reliable and provide and exceptional services to us. There is a strong level of ownership from the team and they go the extra mile to ensure there is a thorough examination of each transactions and our interests are always protected.
It was a pleasure working with Liz and Hannah on this transaction, securing crucial funding for an iconic hotel in South Devon. The communication and commercial guidance from Liz, Hannah and the wider Herrington Carmichael team was first rate throughout. I would not hesitate in recommending them for future transactions and look forward to working with the team again soon.
Jon Williams, Corporate Banking Manager, Hospitality, Leisure and Healthcare, Metro Bank
Metro Bank
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your support, expertise and advice in dealing with the recent sale of our company. This was a complex transaction which required careful planning, attention to detail and delicate negotation to protect our position and maximise the asset value, all of which was achieved successfully and in an efficient and timely manner. Whilst a transaction such as this is, by its very nature, stressful and daunting. Thomas provided excellent front end support and was patient, attentive and considerate throughout. Liz oversaw the process and ensured that we were on track and well represented throughout, particularly in key stages. Throughout the whole transaction, I genuinely felt that Herrington Carmichael was on our side and fully focused on achieving the optimum outcome for the Company. I would have no hesitation in recommending your services.
This firm has a good employment team with a balance of experience and has an excellent client base.
Alistair McArthur - is whitty, personable and exceptional. He is an employment specialist who is commercially sensible and very sharp. He is charming and clients love him!
Tom Hyatt really feels like part of our team. He is understanding of our sector, our business and values and offers great guidance and advice.
What truly sets Darren Smith apart is his combination of employment law expertise with a pragmatic and commercially minded approach. He is not only highly knowledgeable but also an exceptional sounding board, always ready to provide clear and strategic advice tailored to the complexities of our business.
Alistair McArthur is our "go to" for employment law advice. Alistair will always respond clearly with reliable, quality advice that is relevant to the specific situation and understanding of what we are needing to achieve. Alistair instills confidence and is always reassuring, presenting robust and reliable advice in a way that makes us feel like a partner rather than a client.
The team is tenacious in representing its clients, but pragmatic and commercial as well. They each have the technical skills to support their clients, while also having the client care skills to deliver answers in clear and appropriate language.
The team is well balanced with exceptional leadership and a broad range of skills to tackle all employment issues. They are pragmatic, commercial and quick to respond. All essential qualities.
I have found the employment team at Herrington Carmichael to be understanding of our aims and commercially minded. They work in partnership with us, so we can move forwards successfully.
The employment team is really strong at Herrington Carmichael. They are all very experienced and are practical and commercial-minded too.
Knowledge of subject and the quality and detail of advice across the team is stellar. We always feel reassured in receiving their advice and confident that it is robust.
It was my third time appointing Herrington Carmichael as my solicitor - buying shared ownership property, staircasing & selling. It was a roller-coaster journey to sell my property, due to the current difficult market condition, but Zoe and Tom at Herrington Carmichael were professional and provided me fantastic assistance throughout. Thank you Zoe and Tom!
Thorough and professional handling of tricky shared ownership sale - would definitely recommend.
Very professional and through, handled a tricky shared ownership sale well. I would definitely recommend
Zoe and Tom got the deal which was a bit complicated over the line.
Great service from Zoe , who helped me to sell our property start till the end ._x000D_ I am happy to give 5 star to her exceptional help._x000D_ Keep up your good work Zoe .
Great service from Zoe , who helped me to sell our property start till the end ._x000D_ I am happy to give 5 star to her exceptional help._x000D_ Keep up your good work Zoe .
I recently used Harrington Carmichael Solicitors for the sale of a house and was very impressed with the service. This is the second time I’ve used them, and once again the team were polite, efficient, and kept me well informed throughout the whole process. Communication was clear and timely, which made everything run smoothly and stress-free. I would happily recommend them to anyone looking for reliable and professional solicitors.
I have worked with many Solicitors practices over the years and Herrington Carmichael stand out, they get the basics right, you can always speak to someone, they phone you back, they act in a timely manner, they chase the chain without having to be asked, they make you feel your sale/purchase is important….then they go above and beyond, giving practical, sensible advice, helping you understand the process and more importantly what you can do when something goes wrong or there is a surprise along the way. They are just great!
Excellent knowledge and experience. Would highly recommend Zoe
Very pleased with Holly professional and helpful with my house purchase the complete opposite to my solicitor in handling my sale
HC came recommended by our developer and from reservation to competition, this took only 4 weeks. The team at HC Farnborough kept us up to date regularly with responses and any queries being answered within the same day. Given the workload that's required, they've been fantastic to work with and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Herrington Carmichael to anybody requiring their services.
I was referred to Herrington Carmichael by my developer, and the experience was truly exceptional. The team were professional, responsive, and kept me informed throughout the entire process, making what can often be a stressful experience feel smooth and well-managed. Their attention to detail and proactive communication provided me with confidence throughout the entirety of the process. I cannot recommend the team at Herrington Carmichael strongly enough! Special mentions to Emily Williams, Jessica Brooke, and Gabrielle Tague for their dedicated support.

We recently completed the purchase of our first home, and we cannot thank the team at Herrington Carmichael enough for their outstanding service. Navigating a new-build purchase can be daunting, but the team provided a level of expertise and proactive communication that made the entire journey remarkably smooth.A special mention must go to Ellan Skeet, who initiated the process with such clarity and efficiency, setting a high standard from the very first day. Lauren Adams was instrumental during the middle stages; she handled our searches with meticulous detail and was incredibly patient in answering every single doubt and query we had leading up to the exchange of contracts. Her technical knowledge and responsiveness gave us total peace of mind.Post-exchange, the transition to the completion phase was handled seamlessly by Jessica Brooke, Lauren Murray and Melissa Peace. They ensured every detail was in order and provided us with regular, timely updates that kept us fully informed as we approached our move-in date.The coordination between the team members was flawless, and their ability to translate complex legal jargon into clear, actionable advice was much appreciated. If you are looking for a legal team that is professional, approachable, and deeply committed to their clients' interests, we cannot recommend Herrington Carmichael highly enough.Thank you all for helping us get into our new home!

Jess, Gabrielle, Annari, and the team were incredibly efficient. They took care of all the small details and were truly on the customer’s side—pushing for early completion and always highly responsive. I would love to work with them again; it has been a smooth and excellent experience. For first-time buyers especially, the team is very trustworthy.
Very good experience kept me informed throughout I would highly recommend
Very easy to deal with,very professional and welcoming as well
Amazing team. The ladies Karla and Jessica made the progress very easy. Wonderful communication. Was not stressful at all.
Ellie was the most helpfu and professional solicitor I have come across, her advice and assistance were beyond the call of duty.
Myself and my wife are expecting our first newborn and we had the task of upsizing from a one bedroom flat to a 3 bed house. Once we found the home we wanted and struck a deal with the developer, we then had to choose a conveyancing service for both sale and purchase on a part exchange. HC solicitors were highly recommended and we haven't regretted taking to the recommendation. The process of sale and purchase was handled smoothly and professionally by HC solicitors. We were ready for completion within two months of paying a holding deposit for our new-build. This ease and smooth process made a world of difference for us because we had many other challenges to deal with outside our home move. In a nutshell, I will recommend HC solicitors to any friend and family in the future without hesitation. Massive thank you to the team for being a pivotal part of our journey and for helping us launch into this new phase of our lives.
I recently used Herrington Carmichael for the for the purchase of a new-build house, my first house purchase. I couldn’t be happier with the service I received. From start to finish, the team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout what I've heard, can often be a stressful process. Communication was clear and timely at every stage, and any questions I had were answered promptly and in a way that was easy to understand. They kept everything moving smoothly, ensuring that deadlines were met and that there were no unexpected surprises along the way. I really appreciated their attention to detail and the reassurance they provided throughout the transaction. It gave me complete confidence that everything was being handled properly. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, my house purchase was completed seamlessly. I would highly recommend their services to anyone looking for reliable and professional solicitors. Thank you Jessica & Ellan!
Thank you so much to the whole HC team for making our move so seamless. Their service is 5 star, they are easily approachable, contactable and really looked after us. We would recommend to everyone to use HC.
HC were recommended to us by the developer and the team proved to be excellent in dealing with our sale and purchase. Particular thanks to Annari Holmes for helping us through this process. We could always rely on her for prompt and informative responses and she was a tremendous help in proactively chasing to ensure the chain kept moving forward. This was our first new build purchase so Annari’s knowledge and expertise in this particular area of conveyancing was much appreciated. We would not hesitate to recommend HC and would certainly use them again if needed.
From the start to finish I can recommend Herrington Carmichael for the very best experience with buying our new home. The attention by Annari and Gabrielle was outstanding. And they dealt with paperwork so fast it was unbelievable, thank you so much for your dedication and professionalism. From family Johnson.
As first time buyers we were recommended Herrington Carmichael by our developers. Best decision we made, they were fantastic and always explained everything to us in detail. We dealt with Lauren N, Lauren M and Nicole A who couldn’t have been more helpful. Would recommend.
Mary-Jayne has been so incredibly helpful, friendly and patient and I would not hesitate to recommend to family and friends and go to her again myself, in the future. Communication was great, I always knew what was happening and what needed to happen. Highly recommend.
Kept us updated every step of the conveyancing process, providing responses to queries typically on the same day and even within an hour. Very good communication on completion day. Fees reasonable.
Herrington Carmichael were brilliant throughout. Holly Bray, our solicitor was always very helpful along with the rest of the team. Nicole Allen was also really good on completion day.
Highly professional team. Hard to imagine how the process could be more straightforward.
I would like to sincerely thank Aaron and the entire team for their excellent professional service. Aaron is truly an asset to the company. Whenever I sent him an email, he responded within a few minutes and always kept me updated throughout the process. I never felt ignored or left wondering about the progress of my case. I would also like to appreciate Mary Jayne, Emily, Laura Oakley, Jessica and the rest of the team. Everyone was prompt, helpful, professional, and courteous in their communication. Thank you all for making the whole experience smooth and stress-free. I highly appreciate your dedication, professionalism, and excellent customer service. Keep up the great work!
Everyone I spoke to at Herrington Carmichael was friendly, approachable, professional and efficient. This was my first home so all the paperwork and processes were new to me but they were great in explaining things in a simplistic way and answered all of my (probably silly!) questions. Thank you for making it a smooth process :)
We managed the sale and purchase of our house in just 7 weeks. Communication was excellent and the team went over and above
Very pleased with the service provided for purchasing my first (new build) property. Jessica and Gabrielle were great.
We recently used Herrington Carmichael for our sale and purchase and couldn’t be happier with the service we received. They were incredibly thorough and communicative and the whole thing was so smooth from start to finish. We have used other solicitors in the past and none compare, the different has been drastic and I will absolutely use Herrington Carmichael again in future. I would highly recommend their services to anyone and cannot fault them. Thank you so much to Mary-Jayne and Emily Williams in particular - you made a stressful process as simple and pain-free as possible.
Lots of care and attention given to me at my meetings each time I visited Herrington Carmichael offices.

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Meet our experts

Dedicated professionals ready to assist you.

Mark Chapman PNG
Mark Chapman
General Counsel, Head of Commercial & Regulatory
Cesare McArdle PNG
Cesare McArdle
Partner
Christine Tretzmueller-Szauer PNG
Christine Tretzmueller-Szauer
Legal Director
Rhian Hazeldene PNG
Rhian Hazeldene
Solicitor
Esther Michael-John PNG
Esther Michael-John
Solicitor
Shen
Shennind Awat-Ranai
Solicitor
Siddhartha Saxena PNG
Siddhartha Saxena
Senior Co Sec Paralegal

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your most pressing questions about our services and processes.

As a high-level overview, following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, this legislation sees a long-awaited focus on high-risk buildings, establishes a new regulator, promotes and improves competency in all work carried out within the built environment and imposes new duties, responsibilities and information requirements on relevant stakeholders. Please contact us if you would like further specialised advice on how the Act may impact you or your business.

Yes. If you have a construction contract, there are a number of specific clauses you may need to update as a result of the change in the law including ensuring appropriate appointments are made in respect of the duty holder regime, and imposing obligations on the appropriate party in respect of the other requirements.

Similarly, there are a number of clauses which are not allowed within construction contracts and therefore the law will effectively strike them out if they are included. Please do get in touch if you would like further information on these.

A higher-risk building is defined as any building in England which is:

  1. at least 18 metres tall or has at least 7 storeys
  2. contains at least 2 residential units.

It is important to note that certain buildings and establishments are excluded from the HRB Regime – if you would like advice on whether your project falls within the regime, please do not hesitate to contact us.