Research into evacuation behaviour consistently shows that people in emergencies default to familiar routes. They use the staircase they know. From 30 September 2026, two staircases are mandatory in all new residential buildings above 18 metres. A second staircase only protects residents who understand how to use it. That is a communication obligation, not a design one.

Poor communication in property management is now a systemic risk, not a minor operational issue. As buildings become more regulated and resident expectations rise, outdated channels leave people uninformed, frustrated and distrustful. This post explores why communication failures are so widespread, how regulatory pressures are reshaping standards, and how managers can transform communication into reliable infrastructure that strengthens safety, compliance and resident satisfa