Regulations, laws, rules and guidance notes are often used in property management.
If you are a business owner or manager in the UK, it is essential to understand the difference between statutory compliance and regulatory compliance. These terms may sound similar, but they have distinct meanings and requirements that you need to know to ensure your company operates within the law.
What is Statutory Compliance?
Statutory compliance refers to the legal requirements that businesses must comply with by law. These requirements can include a wide range of areas, including health and safety, employment law, data protection, and environmental regulations. Failure to comply with statutory requirements can result in fines, legal action, and damage to a company’s reputation.
Examples of statutory compliance regulations in the UK include:
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974:
This act requires employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and anyone else who may be affected by their work. This includes providing a safe working environment, adequate training, and protective equipment.- National Minimum Wage Act 1998:
This act sets out the minimum hourly rate of pay that employers must pay their workers. The current national minimum wage rates can be found on the UK government website. - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
This regulation outlines the requirements for how companies must handle personal data. This includes obtaining consent from individuals to collect their data, keeping it secure, and only using it for specified purposes.
What is Regulatory Compliance?
Regulatory compliance, on the other hand, refers to the requirements set out by industry regulators that businesses must comply with. These regulations are specific to the industry the business operates in and can vary widely depending on the sector. Failure to comply with regulatory requirements can result in fines, legal action, and even the revocation of a business’s license to operate.
Facilities management (FM) is a broad field that covers the management of buildings, infrastructure, and services. As such, there are several regulatory compliance requirements that can affect facilities management in the UK. Here are a few examples:
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations:
Facilities managers must comply with COSHH regulations, which set out the legal requirements for managing substances that may be hazardous to health. This includes carrying out risk assessments, providing appropriate protective equipment, and ensuring that staff are properly trained.Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM):
Facilities managers must comply with the CDM regulations if they are involved in the design, construction, or maintenance of buildings or structures. This includes carrying out risk assessments, ensuring that contractors are competent and properly trained, and maintaining records of health and safety information.Fire safety:
Facilities managers must comply with various fire safety regulations, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, which sets out the legal requirements for managing fire safety in non-domestic premises. This includes carrying out risk assessments, providing appropriate fire safety equipment, and ensuring that staff are properly trained.Environmental regulations:
Facilities managers must comply with various environmental regulations, including those relating to waste management, energy efficiency, and sustainability. This includes ensuring that waste is managed properly, reducing energy consumption where possible, and promoting sustainable practices.
Guide to Compliance: Keeping Properties Safe and Meeting Legal Obligations
The Importance of Compliance
Compliance is critical for businesses operating in the UK, as failure to comply with statutory or regulatory requirements can result in serious consequences. These can include financial penalties, legal action, damage to reputation, and even the revocation of a business’s license to operate.
In addition to the legal implications, non-compliance can also impact a business’s ability to attract customers, investors, and partners. Many consumers and investors are increasingly interested in supporting companies that operate responsibly and ethically, and non-compliance can damage a business’s reputation and credibility.
How RFM Group Can Help
Navigating the complexities of statutory and regulatory compliance can be challenging for any business. However, RFM Group can help you ensure that your business operates within the law and meets all the necessary requirements.
Compliance with these and other regulatory requirements is essential for facilities managers to ensure the safety and wellbeing of building occupants, protect the environment, and avoid legal and financial consequences of non-compliance. Compliance experts such as RFM Group can help facilities managers develop a compliance strategy that meets the unique needs of their business and ensure that they stay within the law and meet all necessary requirements.
Their facilities management services include:
Compliance audits:
RFM Group can conduct a comprehensive audit of your business to identify any areas where you may be non-compliant and provide recommendations on how to address them.
Compliance training:
RFM Group provide compliance training to all relevant facilities management staff members to ensure they understand their responsibilities and how to operate within the law.
Compliance monitoring:
RFM Group delivers ongoing monitoring of your facilities’ compliance efforts. We use Computer-Aided Facilities Management CAFM to provide regular reports.
Regulatory updates:
RFM Group can help you stay up-to-date with the latest regulatory developments in your industry and provide guidance on how to adapt your compliance strategy accordingly.
Working with RFM Group can help your business avoid some of the challenges that can arise from non-compliance. They can help you develop a compliance strategy that meets the unique needs of your business and ensure that you stay within the law and meet all the necessary requirements.
Action Points for Businesses
If you are a business owner or manager in the UK, there are several action points you should consider to ensure your business is compliant with statutory and regulatory requirements:
Conduct a compliance audit: Conduct a comprehensive audit of your business to identify any areas where you may be non-compliant and develop a plan to address them.
Stay up-to-date with regulatory developments: Stay up-to-date with the latest regulatory developments in your industry and ensure that you adapt your compliance strategy accordingly.
Provide compliance training: Provide compliance training for your staff to ensure they understand their responsibilities and how to operate within the law.
Monitor compliance efforts: Regularly monitor your compliance efforts and provide reports to help you stay on track.
Seek expert guidance: Seek guidance from compliance experts, such as RFM Group, to ensure your business operates within the law and meets all the necessary requirements.
By following these action points, you can help ensure that your business operates within the law and avoids the serious consequences of non-compliance.
Facilities Management and Statutory and Regulatory Compliance
Statutory and regulatory compliance are critical for businesses operating in the UK. Understanding the difference between these two types of compliance and developing a comprehensive compliance strategy is essential for any business to operate within the law and meet all necessary requirements.
Working with compliance experts such as RFM Group can help businesses navigate the complexities of compliance and develop a strategy that meets their unique needs. By following the action points outlined in this article, businesses can ensure that they stay compliant and avoid the serious consequences of non-compliance.
Guide to Compliance: Keeping Properties Safe and Meeting Legal Obligations
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Statutory Compliance and Regulatory Compliance in the UK
What is statutory compliance?
Statutory compliance refers to the legal requirements that businesses must adhere to as set out in various statutes, regulations, and laws.
What is regulatory compliance?
Regulatory compliance refers to the specific regulations and standards that businesses must follow to operate within their industry.
What are the consequences of non-compliance?
Non-compliance can result in serious consequences for businesses, including legal action, fines, reputational damage, and even closure of the business.
How can compliance experts such as RFM Group help businesses?
Compliance experts can help businesses develop a comprehensive compliance strategy, provide ongoing monitoring and training, and help them stay up-to-date with regulatory developments in their industry.
What action points can businesses take to ensure compliance?
Businesses can conduct a compliance audit, stay up-to-date with regulatory developments, provide compliance training for staff, monitor compliance efforts, and seek expert guidance to ensure they meet all necessary requirements.
