Transfer slabs in buildings: Advice and FAQs

The Institution of Structural Engineers, as the primary professional body in the UK for qualified structural engineers i.e. the professionals who would usually design such buildings, advise there was a gap in the standards and guidance for engineers around this issue.

Further research is being undertaken by Government, and this page will be updated as more information becomes available.

If a PAP or building owner becomes aware of a transfer slab issue, then they should contact the buildings insurers in accordance with the terms of the policy.

It is too early at this stage for RICS to assess the impact this may have, and we will update this page in due course. If remediation is costly, then there may be an impact.

On 19^th December 2025, the First Tier Tribunal made their decision regarding granting a Remediation Order in the Block P, Wotton Court, 6 Jamestown Way, London SE14 2DB case concerning punching shear in a balcony and around the soffit of planted columns above in a 12-storey block of flats. Please see this link for further details.

Building owners may wish to appoint RICS members particularly Chartered Building Surveyors at MRICS/FRICS level, to conduct initial inspections and carry out condition reports. Members must stay within their area of competence at all times, however they may be able to assist building owners by identifying a building has transfer slabs.

RICS advises that in any tall building where there is a possibility of a reinforced concrete transfer slab, at any floor level, the services of a specialist structural engineer conversant with this problem should be appointed for further assessment and advice.

In any HRB in England, there is a duty to prepare a Safety Case Report and apply to the Building Safety Regulator for a Building Assessment Certificate (BAC). In the opinion of RICS such reports should make reference to whether transfer slabs exist or not. Existing Safety Case Reports may need updating. The BSR should be contacted direct if there are any queries regarding this.

For any high rise building in the devolved nations of the UK, RICS members who believe that a building may have a transfer slab, should advise the building owner to instruct a suitably qualified and competent CEng member of the Institution of Structural Engineers or Institution of Civil Engineers, satisfying themselves that such professionals have expertise in this area.  At this point in time, RICS is not aware of the issue outside the UK but members should carry out their own due diligence.

RICS will be hosting webinars to update members on this topic, look out for notifications via ebriefs from RICS.

RICS issued a Practice Alert to all members globally on 14th January 2026, see this link.

Members can also contact knowledge@rics.org to provide feedback on issues they come across.