Salix Homes prepares for new fire safety legislation to further protect customers

Salix Homes is taking steps to help keep customers safe in their homes as new national fire safety legislation comes into force this spring.

We own 20 high rise buildings across Salford, and from April 2026, all high rise buildings will be required to have Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (RPEEPs) in place.

These are personalised plans for people who may need extra support to leave the building safely in an emergency. Lifts cannot be used during a fire, so it is important that everyone can evacuate using the stairs or has an agreed alternative plan in place.

RPEEPs are the latest in a raft of building safety improvements introduced since the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017 when 72 people died in the most tragic of circumstances.

RPEEPs are designed to understand individual needs and provide practical support, taking into account a range of circumstances that could affect someone’s ability to evacuate quickly. This could include mobility issues, hearing or sight loss, long-term health conditions, mental health needs, medication, or other factors such as alcohol or substance dependency.

Liam Turner, Chief Executive at Salix Homes and Chair of Greater Manchester Housing Providers (GMHP) Building Safety Group, said: “The safety of our customers is always our top priority, and this new legislation is another important step in keeping people safe in their homes.

“We understand that some of this might feel like personal or sensitive information, but our approach is about being supportive and practical, not judgemental. The aim is to understand people’s individual circumstances and work together to agree sensible measures that keep people safe – measures that could ultimately save lives.

“Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the housing sector has seen significant changes in fire safety, and Salix Homes has been at the forefront of implementing those improvements, and we remain fully committed to keeping our customers safe.

“I would urge anyone who may need extra help, or whose circumstances have changed, to work with us so we can make sure the right safety measures are in place.”

Salix Homes is also working closely with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) to ensure customers receive the right support. With customers’ consent, relevant information from an RPEEP will be shared with the fire service via an Evacuation Statement, so emergency responders know how best to assist if needed.

Practical support could include measures such as specialist alarms for people with sensory impairments, tailored evacuation advice such as agreeing a safe place in the building to wait for help, or additional internal fire safety measures such as extra fire doors inside the home. Every plan will be created in partnership with customers to make sure it meets their individual needs.

To provide some reassurance, all our high rise buildings already have extensive fire safety measures in place, which are regularly checked, managed, and maintained. RPEEPs build on these arrangements, providing extra support for people where it may be needed.

Over the coming weeks and months, our Building Safety Team will be contacting everyone living in a high rise home to check whether a personalised evacuation plan may be required and to discuss what support could help. In many cases, we already hold this information, but as circumstances can change, these conversations help us keep records up-to-date and ensure the right support is in place.

We will also carry out annual check-ins to review each plan and make sure it continues to meet people’s needs.

This process will also be introduced at our independent living schemes for the over 55s, as part of the next phase of the rollout.

Get in touch

You do not need to wait for us to call you.

If you think you may have difficulty evacuating the building in an emergency, or if your circumstances have changed, please contact us as soon as possible. This will help us understand your needs and ensure the right arrangements are in place to support you.

Call our Building Safety Team on 0800 218 2000 or email buildingsafety@salixhomes.co.uk

Find out more about RPEEPS on our Building Safety pages