IN Brief:
- The Senedd passed the Building Safety (Wales) Bill on 10 March 2026 and the legislation is now at post stage 4.
- The regime covers multi-occupied residential buildings across Wales, with different requirements based on building category.
- Royal Assent is expected in April 2026 ahead of implementation through further regulations and guidance.
Welsh Government‘s Building Safety (Wales) Bill passed its Stage 4 vote in the Senedd on 10 March 2026, moving the legislation into post stage 4 ahead of expected Royal Assent in April. The bill establishes a new building safety regime for multi-occupied residential buildings across Wales and is wider in scope than England’s equivalent framework.
The regime applies to buildings of any size that contain two or more residential units, with three categories based on height and number of storeys. Category 1 covers buildings at least 18 metres high or at least seven storeys, category 2 applies to buildings at least 11 metres high or at least five storeys, and category 3 covers smaller multi-occupied residential buildings below those thresholds. Fire safety provisions will also apply to certain houses in multiple occupation that are not let under a single joint tenancy.
The legislation creates clear accountable persons, requires competent fire risk assessments, introduces resident rights and duties, and sets up a new enforcement regime. Certain regulated buildings will have to be registered with local authorities acting as building safety authorities, while fire and rescue authorities take on parallel fire safety functions. Further information is available through the Building Safety Programme.
