Partner Article

Endeavour Group Highlights Growing Liability Risks as Thousands of High-Rise Buildings Remain Unassessed

Ormskirk based building safety consultancy Endeavour Group says thousands of high-rise residential buildings in the UK may contain relevant defects under the Building Safety Act 2022, yet most have not been assessed to a standard that would reliably identify them.

Endeavour Group says this gap is creating significant legal and financial exposure for block managers and freeholders as leaseholders become more aware of their protections and begin to challenge the quality of evidence used to determine liability.

Relevant defects include fire and structural safety issues linked to design, materials, workmanship or professional services over the last thirty years. While national attention has focused on cladding, Endeavour Group says the majority of issues it identifies relate to common construction failures such as unsealed service penetrations, missing fire protection and compromised compartmentation.

The team adds that many duty holders still rely on generic surveys that do not meet the requirements of the Act. In particular, surveys that lack intrusive inspection or do not link findings back to the statutory definition of a relevant defect are unlikely to withstand legal, regulatory or financial scrutiny.

James Doyle, Managing Director and Chartered Health and Safety Consultant and Fire Engineer, said: “The protections for leaseholders are clear. If a relevant defect exists, responsibility sits above them. The real test is whether the evidence stands up. Reports that provide reassurance without substance are creating future disputes, delays and cost exposure.

“Recent tribunal decisions have taken a broad view of what can constitute a relevant defect and reinforced that liability will ultimately follow where robust evidence identifies a building safety risk. This places even greater importance on surveys that can be defended legally as well as technically.”

To address this gap, Endeavour Group has developed design led compartmentation surveys that combine intrusive inspection, photographic evidence, technical justification and clear links back to fire strategy intent and the statutory definition of a relevant defect. These documents show duty holders where a breach exists, why it matters, how compartment lines are affected and what is required for compliant remediation.

New FOI data shared with James and his team highlights the scale of unmet need. Out of an estimated 12,500 high-rise residential buildings in the UK, only 110 have received an approved Building Assessment Certificate. Around 1,700 are somewhere within the process, leaving more than 10,000 buildings that have not begun formal assessment.

Endeavour Group recently identified multiple relevant defects in a major residential scheme where the developer initially disputed the findings. After reviewing the evidence and seeking legal advice, the freeholder confirmed the issues met the statutory definition and escalated the matter. The developer has since accepted full responsibility and committed to the remedial work.

James added: “There is still a clear knowledge gap across the sector. People are being asked to make significant decisions without the technical understanding the Act requires. Our Building Safety Masterclass, launching early next year, will help block managers and client teams understand what a relevant defect is, how liability is determined and what strong evidence looks like.”

Founded in 2018, Endeavour Group has become one of the region’s most recognised voices in building safety, fire engineering and compliance management. The team works across high-rise residential, supported living and student accommodation schemes across the UK.

More information is available at www.endeavourgroup.co.uk 

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Oliver Thomas .