What are the registration and safety case duties for a higher-risk residential building?
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- 22sources
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A residential building of at least 18 metres or 7 storeys with 2 or more homes must be registered with the Building Safety Regulator before anyone lives there. The principal accountable person must keep building safety risks assessed, keep the safety case report up to date, and apply for a building assessment certificate within 28 days of being told to.
Legal duties and deadlines are taken from the Act and the regulations made under it, but the building assessment certificate process and its five-year reassessment aim are under review following the July 2026 announcement.
What to do, and how often
| Task | How often | Who | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register the building with the Building Safety Regulator before it is occupied | No fixed intervalOne-off, before occupation | Principal accountable person | Law Section 77 of the Building Safety Act 2022 makes it an offence for a higher-risk building to be occupied but not registered. SourcesS1S2S3 |
| Give the regulator the structure and fire safety information (key building information) | No fixed intervalWithin 28 days of applying to register | Principal accountable person | Law Regulation 20 of the Higher-Risk Buildings (Key Building Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023 requires the key building information to be submitted within 28 days of the application to register. Building Safety Regulator guidance says the same. SourcesS16S4 |
| Tell the regulator about changes to the registration details | No fixed intervalEvent-driven: within 14 relevant days (Christmas Day, Good Friday and bank holidays do not count) or 28 days of becoming aware of the change | Principal accountable person | Law Regulation 4 of the Building Safety (Registration of Higher-Risk Buildings and Review of Decisions) (England) Regulations 2023 requires changes to registration information within 14 relevant days of becoming aware of them. Regulation 21 of the key building information regulations requires changes to that information within 28 days. SourcesS17S22S18S5S6 |
| Assess building safety risks (spread of fire and structural failure), and reassess | No fixed intervalNo fixed legal interval: at regular intervals and when the assessment may no longer be valid | Each accountable person | Law Section 83 of the Building Safety Act 2022 requires an assessment as soon as reasonably practicable, then further assessments at regular intervals and whenever the current one may no longer be valid. SourcesS7S8 |
| Keep the safety case report up to date and tell the regulator about significant updates | No fixed intervalNo fixed interval: revise after each further risk assessment or new safety measure | Principal accountable person | Law Section 85 of the Building Safety Act 2022 requires the report to be revised when necessary or appropriate. Regulator guidance says to tell BSR as soon as possible when it is updated for new or increased risks or further measures. SourcesS9S10 |
| Apply for a building assessment certificate when directed by the regulator | No fixed intervalWithin 28 days of the direction | Principal accountable person | Law Section 79 of the Building Safety Act 2022 requires the application within 28 days of the regulator's direction. SourcesS11 |
| Expect reassessment of the building assessment certificate | Every 5 yearsRegulator's stated aim, not a legal interval; process under review since July 2026 | Building Safety Regulator, with the principal accountable person | Guidance The regulator's guidance says it aims to reassess every 5 years, sooner in some cases. In July 2026 it announced changes to how certificates are called in. SourcesS12S14 |
| Report safety occurrences to the regulator | No fixed intervalEvent-driven: notice as soon as reasonably practicable, report within 10 days | Principal accountable person or accountable person | Law Regulation 6 of the Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc) (England) Regulations 2023 requires a notice as soon as reasonably practicable and a report within 10 days of the occurrence coming to the accountable person's attention. Building Safety Regulator guidance describes this as 10 calendar days. SourcesS19S13 |
| Review the residents' engagement strategy | Every 2 yearsAt least every 2 years, and after certain events | Principal accountable person | Law Regulation 10 of the Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc) (England) Regulations 2023 requires a review at least every two years, and also after a consultation on the strategy, after a mandatory occurrence report and after significant material alterations to the building. SourcesS20S21 |
The law
Part 4 of the Building Safety Act 2022 applies to occupied higher-risk buildings in England: residential buildings of at least 18 metres or 7 storeys with at least 2 residential units. Section 77 makes it an offence for such a building to be occupied without being registered. Sections 83 and 85 require accountable persons to assess building safety risks and the principal accountable person to prepare and revise a safety case report. Section 79 requires an application for a building assessment certificate within 28 days of the regulator's direction. Regulations made under the Act set the deadlines: 28 days for key building information, 14 relevant days or 28 days for changes, 10 days for a mandatory occurrence report, and a review of the residents' engagement strategy at least every two years.
The standard
No British Standard sets these duties. The Building Safety Regulator's GOV.UK guidance explains how to meet them.
Records to keep
- Registration confirmation and reference
- Key building information submission
- Building safety risk assessments
- Current safety case report with a log of revisions
- Building assessment certificate application and decision
- Mandatory occurrence notices and reports
- Resident engagement strategy
Notes
These are governance duties with deadlines, not a maintenance frequency; the only recurring legal interval is the two-yearly review of the residents' engagement strategy.
The regime is still settling: the Building Safety Regulator moved out of HSE to become a standalone body on 27 January 2026, and on 9 July 2026 it announced that it will only call in new building assessment certificate applications when necessary while it redesigns the process.
Duties on accountable persons remain in force throughout. Hospitals, care homes, hotels, prisons, military premises and secure residential institutions are not registered under this regime.
Who delivers this in the group
Not a group service
This is not delivered by an AMPM Group company. It is listed because building managers need the whole picture.
Questions people ask
Building registration and safety case for higher-risk residential buildings: which tasks are legal requirements?
8 tasks on this page rest on legislation: register the building with the Building Safety Regulator before it is occupied (one-off, before occupation); give the regulator the structure and fire safety information (key building information) (within 28 days of applying to register); tell the regulator about changes to the registration details (event-driven: within 14 relevant days (Christmas Day, Good Friday and bank holidays do not count) or 28 days of becoming aware of the change); assess building safety risks (spread of fire and structural failure), and reassess (no fixed legal interval: at regular intervals and when the assessment may no longer be valid); keep the safety case report up to date and tell the regulator about significant updates (no fixed interval: revise after each further risk assessment or new safety measure); apply for a building assessment certificate when directed by the regulator (within 28 days of the direction); report safety occurrences to the regulator (event-driven: notice as soon as reasonably practicable, report within 10 days); review the residents' engagement strategy (every 2 years). The other 1 task is recommended by guidance, and is not a legal requirement in itself.
Building registration and safety case for higher-risk residential buildings: who should carry out each task?
Principal accountable person: register the building with the Building Safety Regulator before it is occupied; give the regulator the structure and fire safety information (key building information); tell the regulator about changes to the registration details; keep the safety case report up to date and tell the regulator about significant updates; apply for a building assessment certificate when directed by the regulator; review the residents' engagement strategy. Each accountable person: assess building safety risks (spread of fire and structural failure), and reassess. Building Safety Regulator, with the principal accountable person: expect reassessment of the building assessment certificate. Principal accountable person or accountable person: report safety occurrences to the regulator.
Building registration and safety case for higher-risk residential buildings: what records should you keep?
Keep these records: registration confirmation and reference; key building information submission; building safety risk assessments; current safety case report with a log of revisions; building assessment certificate application and decision; mandatory occurrence notices and reports; resident engagement strategy.
Building registration and safety case for higher-risk residential buildings: which tasks have no fixed interval?
Register the building with the Building Safety Regulator before it is occupied: one-off, before occupation. Give the regulator the structure and fire safety information (key building information): within 28 days of applying to register. Tell the regulator about changes to the registration details: event-driven: within 14 relevant days (Christmas Day, Good Friday and bank holidays do not count) or 28 days of becoming aware of the change. Assess building safety risks (spread of fire and structural failure), and reassess: no fixed legal interval: at regular intervals and when the assessment may no longer be valid. Keep the safety case report up to date and tell the regulator about significant updates: no fixed interval: revise after each further risk assessment or new safety measure. Apply for a building assessment certificate when directed by the regulator: within 28 days of the direction. Report safety occurrences to the regulator: event-driven: notice as soon as reasonably practicable, report within 10 days.
Sources
Every task and legal statement is supported by at least one source fetched over HTTPS and read on the date shown. Quotes are verbatim and 25 words or fewer. A second, independent verification pass re-fetched every source and re-read the legislation on 5 October 2026. Intervals taken from British Standards were checked against published summaries of those standards by trade bodies and government guidance, because the standards themselves are paid publications.
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Building Safety Act 2022, section 77: Occupation: registration requirement ↗
legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“commits an offence if the building is occupied but not registered”
Supports: Offence if a higher-risk building is occupied but not registered
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Applying to register a high-rise residential building ↗
Building Safety Regulator (GOV.UK) · Last updated 25 March 2025 · read on
“It is an offence to allow residents to occupy an unregistered high-rise residential building.”
Supports: Regulator guidance on registering before occupation
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Applying to register a high-rise residential building ↗
Building Safety Regulator (GOV.UK) · Last updated 25 March 2025 · read on
“at least 7 floors or is at least 18 metres in height”
Supports: Which buildings must be registered
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Applying to register a high-rise residential building ↗
Building Safety Regulator (GOV.UK) · Last updated 25 March 2025 · read on
“You have 28 days after submitting your registration application to give BSR more detailed information”
Supports: 28 days to give structure and fire safety information after applying to register
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Applying to register a high-rise residential building ↗
Building Safety Regulator (GOV.UK) · Last updated 25 March 2025 · read on
“you must tell BSR within 14 days of becoming aware of changes to the”
Supports: 14 days to notify changes to the building summary and accountable persons
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Applying to register a high-rise residential building ↗
Building Safety Regulator (GOV.UK) · Last updated 25 March 2025 · read on
“You must tell BSR within 28 days of becoming aware of any changes to the building’s structure or fire safety information”
Supports: 28 days to notify changes to structure or fire safety information
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Building Safety Act 2022, section 83: Assessment of building safety risks ↗
legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“must as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant time assess the building safety risks”
Supports: Duty to assess building safety risks
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Building Safety Act 2022, section 83: Assessment of building safety risks ↗
legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“(a) at regular intervals, (b) at any time that the accountable person has reason to suspect that the current assessment is no longer valid”
Supports: Further assessments at regular intervals and when the assessment may no longer be valid
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Building Safety Act 2022, section 85: Safety case report ↗
legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“must revise a safety case report if they consider it necessary or appropriate to do so”
Supports: Duty to revise the safety case report
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Preparing a safety case report ↗
Building Safety Regulator (GOV.UK) · Last updated 6 December 2024 · read on
“You must tell BSR as soon as possible if you update your safety case report to include”
Supports: Regulator guidance: tell BSR when the safety case report is updated for new or increased risks
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Building Safety Act 2022, section 79: Duty to apply for building assessment certificate ↗
legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“must make the application within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the direction is given”
Supports: 28 days to apply for a building assessment certificate once directed
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Preparing a building assessment certificate application ↗
Building Safety Regulator (GOV.UK) · Last updated 1 April 2026 · read on
“BSR aims to reassess a building’s BAC every 5 years.”
Supports: Regulator's stated aim to reassess every 5 years
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Submitting mandatory occurrence notices and reports ↗
Building Safety Regulator (GOV.UK) · Last updated 4 September 2025 · read on
“report within 10 calendar days of the safety occurrence being identified”
Supports: Mandatory occurrence reporting timescales
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BSR to introduce more proportionate and targeted approach for higher-risk building assessments ↗
Building Safety Regulator and MHCLG (GOV.UK press release) · Published 9 July 2026 · read on
“only call in new applications when necessary until improved processes are agreed and communicated to duty holders”
Supports: July 2026 announcement that the certificate process is being changed
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BSR becomes standalone body in landmark step towards single construction regulator ↗
Building Safety Regulator and MHCLG (GOV.UK press release) · Published 27 January 2026 · read on
“has today (27 January 2026) officially moved to a standalone organisation”
Supports: The regulator left HSE and became a standalone body on 27 January 2026
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Higher-Risk Buildings (Key Building Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023, regulation 20 ↗
legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“The key building information for a higher-risk building must be submitted within 28 days of the PAP submitting an application for registration”
Supports: Legal deadline: key building information within 28 days of applying to register
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legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“within the period of 14 relevant days beginning with the day that the PAP becomes aware of a change”
Supports: Legal deadline: changes to registration information within 14 relevant days
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Higher-Risk Buildings (Key Building Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023, regulation 21 ↗
legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“The PAP must notify the regulator of any change to the key building information within 28 days of the PAP becoming aware of the change.”
Supports: Legal deadline: changes to key building information within 28 days
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legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“within the period of 10 days beginning with the day on which the safety occurrence came to the AP’s attention”
Supports: Legal deadline: mandatory occurrence report within 10 days
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legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“at least every two years, and in any event within a reasonable period following the conclusion of a consultation”
Supports: Legal interval: review of the residents' engagement strategy at least every two years
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legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“the PAP must review the residents’ engagement strategy”
Supports: Legal duty on the principal accountable person to review the strategy
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legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“means any day other than Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday”
Supports: Meaning of relevant day