Register a higher-risk building with BSR

Why registration matters

Every occupied higher-risk building in England must be registered with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Registration is a legal requirement under the Building Safety Act 2022 - allowing residents to occupy an unregistered building is a criminal offence.

Registration is the first step in an ongoing compliance relationship with the BSR. Once registered, you must maintain accurate records, report changes, and comply with further obligations including preparing a safety case report and applying for a Building Assessment Certificate.

This guide explains who must register, what information you need, how the process works, and what ongoing obligations registration creates.

Does your building need to be registered?

Your building must be registered if it meets all of the following criteria:

• It is 18 metres or more in height OR has 7 or more storeys
• It contains at least 2 residential units
• It is in England
• It is occupied (or about to be occupied)

Height is measured from ground level to the top of the floor surface of the top storey (excluding roof-top plant rooms). Below-ground storeys are ignored for the storey count; height is measured from ground level.

Who must register?

The Principal Accountable Person (PAP) must submit the registration application. This is typically:

• The freeholder (building owner)
• A management company with responsibility for the structure and exterior
• A resident management company or right to manage company that has acquired the freehold
• A housing association or local authority (for their housing stock)

If you are unsure whether you are the PAP, review who has the legal estate in possession of the structure and exterior of the building. That person is the PAP.

Registration deadlines

• Existing occupied buildings: The registration deadline was 30 September 2023, and occupying an unregistered building has been an offence since 1 October 2023. If you have not yet registered, do so immediately. Late registration is better than no registration, but you may face enforcement action for the period of non-compliance.
• New buildings: You must register before first occupation, after receiving the Gateway 3 completion certificate. (The Building Assessment Certificate is a separate, later certificate that the Principal Accountable Person applies for when directed by the BSR.)
• Buildings becoming higher-risk: If a building becomes higher-risk through alteration (for example, adding storeys), you must register before the altered building is occupied.

How to register step by step

Information you must provide

Initial application:

• Building name and address
• Height in metres and number of storeys
• Number of residential units
• Completion date (or approximate date if unknown)
• Principal Accountable Person name and contact details
• Details of all other Accountable Persons (if any)

Within 28 days of application:

• Detailed structure and fire safety information
• Fire control systems installed
• Energy systems
• External wall construction and materials
• Any building modifications since original construction
• Structural connections between different parts

Failure to provide the detailed information within 28 days may result in enforcement action or registration being refused.

What happens after you register

Registration is not the end of the process - it is the beginning of an ongoing compliance relationship with the BSR.

Ongoing notification obligations

• 14 days to notify changes to: building summary information, Principal Accountable Person identity, or other Accountable Persons
• 28 days to report changes to: building structure or fire safety information

Further duties triggered by registration

• Safety case report: Prepare and submit to BSR as soon as reasonably practicable
• Building Assessment Certificate: Apply to the BSR within 28 days of being directed to do so - have your safety case ready for when your building is called
• Residents' engagement strategy: Create and implement immediately
• Golden thread: Maintain digital building information records
• Mandatory occurrence reporting: Report safety events to BSR

If your registration is rejected

The BSR may reject your registration if the information provided is incomplete, inaccurate, or does not demonstrate that the building meets the higher-risk criteria. If rejected:

• You have 21 days to request a review of the decision
• The review fee is GBP 312 (BSR charging scheme 2026 to 2027, from 8 April 2026)
• You must still register - resolve the issues and reapply

A rejection does not remove your duty to register. The building remains subject to all Building Safety Act requirements regardless of registration status.

Penalties for non-registration