Government Shifts Fire Safety Responsibility to Housing Department

The Government will transfer fire safety responsibilities from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in response to the Grenfell Inquiry’s final report. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced this move as part of a more unified approach to ensuring fire safety in homes. The change, effective from April 2025, aims to address concerns about fragmented oversight and aligns with recommendations for consolidating building safety under a single secretary of state.
The Fire Brigades Union and the National Fire Chiefs Council have welcomed the decision, calling it an essential step in strengthening fire and rescue services. The Grenfell Inquiry, published in September 2023, criticised the existing division of responsibilities, which placed fire risk assessment under the Home Office and building safety regulation across multiple departments.
This shift is part of a broader recommendation to establish a single “super-regulator” for the construction industry. Industry experts suggest the transition will be gradual, potentially aligning with the 2027 review of the Building Safety Regulator. The government has reiterated its commitment to implementing all 58 recommendations of the Grenfell report by March 2025, ensuring long-term improvements in fire safety standards.