Journey
Managing an occupied higher-risk building
Learning path for Accountable Persons and property managers responsible for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022. Covers registration, safety case reports, golden thread, and resident engagement duties.
Your responsibilities as building manager
If you manage or own a higher-risk building in England (18 metres or 7+ storeys with 2+ residential units), you have legal duties under the Building Safety Act 2022. Non-compliance is a criminal offence with unlimited fines.
This learning path covers your key obligations during the occupation phase.
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Understand the Building Safety Act
The Building Safety Act 2022 created a new regulatory regime for higher-risk residential buildings. The Building Safety Regulator (an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) oversees compliance.
Building Safety Act compliance
Full guide to Building Safety Act requirements, gateway process, and higher-risk building definition
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Know your role as Accountable Person
Every higher-risk building must have one or more Accountable Persons (APs). If there are multiple APs, one must be the Principal Accountable Person (PAP) with coordination duties.
Accountable Person duties
Detailed guide to AP and PAP responsibilities under the Building Safety Act
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Register your building
The PAP must register the building with the Building Safety Regulator. Allowing occupation of an unregistered higher-risk building is a criminal offence.
Register a higher-risk building
Step-by-step registration process with the Building Safety Regulator
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Prepare your safety case report
The PAP must prepare and maintain a safety case report demonstrating how building safety risks are identified and managed. The Regulator can request this at any time.
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Maintain the golden thread
You must maintain a digital record of key building safety information throughout occupation. This includes design decisions, as-built information, and maintenance records.
Create and maintain the golden thread
Guide to golden thread requirements and digital information management
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Engage with residents
You must establish a resident engagement strategy, provide safety information, and operate a complaints system. Residents can escalate to the Building Safety Regulator if dissatisfied.
Resident engagement requirements
Guide to consulting residents and handling safety complaints
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Ongoing compliance and reporting
Accountable Persons must report certain safety occurrences to the Regulator - give notice as soon as reasonably practicable, with a full report within 10 days. You must also assess risks continuously and appoint competent persons to assist.
gov.uk
Building Safety Regulator (opens in a new tab)
Official guidance and reporting portal for higher-risk buildings
What happens if you fail to comply
The Building Safety Regulator has extensive enforcement powers. Criminal penalties include unlimited fines and imprisonment. Enforcement also includes compliance notices (breach of a notice is itself a criminal offence) and special measures, where the First-tier Tribunal can appoint a manager on the BSR's application.