October deadline for higher risk building registration & Building Safety Act provisions approaching: What do you need to know?

Natalie Sellar at Addleshaw Goddard provides a timely reminder for building owners, managers and Principal Accountable Persons that the 1 October 2023 deadline for higher risk building registration is fast approaching.

The recent publication of The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc) (England) Regulations 2023 (the Regulations) serve as a timely reminder that the deadline for the registration of higher-risk buildings is fast approaching.

Higher risk buildings need to be registered by 1 October 2023, which is also the date that the remaining provisions of the Building Safety Act 2022 will come into force.

If you are a Principal Accountable Person (PAP) you need to:

1. Register any occupied higher-risk buildings (HRB) for which you are accountable by the deadline; and
2. once registered, ensure you comply with your duties under the Building Safety Act 2022 (the Act) and the Regulations.

Registration requirements

All occupied HRBs need to be registered with the Building Safety Regulator by the PAP by 1 October 2023.

Registration is subject to a fee of £251 and is made via the BSR’s digital platform.

Registration requires various information including the HRB’s Key Building Information, as well as all name and contact details for all PAPs and Accountable persons.

Requirements under the Regulations

The Government has provided further clarity on an AP/PAPs obligations by way of the Regulations.

Once registered, APs and/or PAPs have various responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• complying with various principles when managing building safety risks including evaluating risks through, amongst others, proportionate measures to address, reduce, mitigate and control the risks; combatting building safety risks at source by introducing proportionate measures to address and mitigate risk; and ensuring suitable and proportionate systems are in place for the effective inspection, testing and maintenance of measures;
• ensuring building safety risks are managed by someone with the necessary competence;
• preparing and maintaining safety case reports;
• putting in place a mandatory occurrence reporting system;
• ensuring key information and documents are maintained and preserved electronically;
• providing relevant information to residents and the regulator and reviewing and maintaining a residents’ engagement strategy where necessary

For further information, please contact Adrian Mansbridge or Natalie Sellar from Addleshaw Goddard’s specialist fire and building safety team.

Further reading…

• The Building Safety Act 2022: ‘Accountable Persons’ and ‘Principle Accountable Persons’ – What do these terms mean?
• Building Safety Act – Key concepts: What defines a higher-risk building or relevant building?

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