What Is the Building Safety Act 2022 and What Does It Mean for You?

February 27, 2026

Worried about the safety of your flat or confused about who is responsible for fixing serious building defects? The Building Safety Act 2022 was introduced to increase the safety standards in residential buildings and protect leaseholders from unfair repair costs. This Act received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022, following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, after serious safety failures. It exposed major weaknesses in the building regulation system across England.

What Is the Building Safety Act?

The Building Safety law (BSA) 2022 is a UK law that was introduced to improve residential buildings, particularly high-rise flats. It received the Royal Assent on 28 April 2022 after the serious regulatory failures that happened due to the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. In this tragedy, 72 people lost their lives.

It creates a new Building Safety Regulator and sets clearer legal duties for developers, landlords, and building managers. The law also protects many leaseholders from paying unfair costs related to historical building safety defects. The purpose of this law is to make homes safer while giving residents stronger rights and clearer protection under UK law.

Why Was the Building Safety Act Introduced?

The building safety law was introduced due to several important reasons, which are given below:

To address safety failures exposed by the fire at Grenfell Tower.
For fixing weaknesses in the UK’s building regulation and inspection system.
It was also introduced to improve fire and structural safety in high-rise residential buildings.
By this law, developers and building owners are legally accountable for any sudden accident.
It also protects the leaseholders from unfair costs for historical building defects.

What the Act Means for Residents of Higher-Risk Buildings and Homeowners

In the Safety Act 2022, there is great protection for the higher-risk buildings that are 18m tall or seven storeys with multiple units. The accountable persons for the safety concerns of these buildings are the owners or managers who should report any risk to the Building Safety Regulator. The homeowners have a time limit for compensation for serious construction defects of about 15 years. From 28 June 2022, leaseholders no longer pay for unsafe cladding, and safety repair costs are now transparent and limited.

What the Act Means For Building Owners

According to the Safety Act for buildings, the owners of the property are responsible for the safety of higher-risk residential buildings. If they are unable to perform the full security check-ups, then they should appoint a person who oversees the fire safety regulations and structural risks. In case they fail to follow the legal rules, they have to face the penalties and fines for this inconvenience.

What the Act Means For the Built Environment Industry

This building act has made strict rules for everyone in the built environment industry. Everyone who is doing the designing, constructing, and managing of residential buildings is accountable for the negligence of the safety act. They should follow the compliance rules and provide detailed safety documentation. The materials and construction methods should meet the higher safety standards. It helps in improving the trust between both residents and regulators.

The UK government is introducing a new developer tax and a levy on developers that they have to pay for the correction of defective buildings. In this regard, 30 developers have agreed with the government pledge and are ready to construct all the buildings that they have constructed in the past 30 years. But some developers do not agree on it, and yet they have not signed the agreement.

What is the UK Building Safety Levy?

In 2021, the UK government announced that it would introduce a building safety levy that would apply to new residential development properties. The expected revenues that will be obtained from it will be around £3 billion over 10 years.

The key points of Levy

This tax will be collected by the local authorities.
Levy tax rates will be different for every location and type of land.
It will be charged based on floor space but not on the per unit.
If the property owners improve their building by self, then no charges will be applied to them.
This levy does not apply to affordable housing or small developers with fewer than 10 residential units.

What Are The Building Safety Act Gateways?

This act has introduced a system of three gateways to make safety the priority in the lifecycle of a higher risk buildings. These gateways set mandatory checks and approvals during design, construction, and pre-occupation. The three gateways are explained below in detail:

What is the Building Safety Law Gateway 1

The first gateway is known as the planning process. It applies when a developer submits a planning application for approval of the higher-risk buildings. In this application, fire and structural safety risks are considered early in the design process. The property owner should also provide the relevant information to the local planning authority before approval.

What is the Building Safety Act Gateway 2

This stage is known as the construction control stage according to the Safety Act 2022 for the higher-risk buildings. Its responsibility of the developers that they have to submit the details of the building safety and design before the construction starts to the Building Safety Regulators. The contractor must obtain formal approval, otherwise they will not be able to start the construction. That’s why this gateway 2 is known as the hard stop checkpoint in the building process.

What is the Building Safety Act Gateway 3

It is the final approval stage under the Safety Act for buildings that are at high risk. At this point, the developers submit a confirmation that the building is constructed to all the approval guidelines. These buildings cannot be occupied if the regulator is not satisfied with the fire and structural safety requirements.

Complete digital building information record

What Is the Golden Thread of Information Under the Building Safety Act?

According to the Safety Act 2022, it is a digital record of the safety information for buildings. It applies to the higher residential buildings that are 18 meters tall or seven storeys high. This record includes the information about

Construction materials
Fire safety system
Structural safety measures

It must be created during the planning of the buildings and updated throughout their life. The construction safety regulator requires accurate, authentic data that is accessible to them at all times.

What Information Must Be Included in the Golden Thread?

The detailed list of information that should be included in the Golden Thread is given below:

The first important thing is the design and structural details of the building.
It must include the fire and structural safety strategies.
There should be clearly mention of the material that is used in the construction of the buildings.
Also, clearly write what precautions are taken for fire safety, such as the installation of fire alarms and sprinklers, etc.
There should be mentioned the inspection and maintenance data should be mentioned after the changes have been made in the high-risk building.
The contact details of the accountable person should be included in the golden thread.

What Are The Golden Thread Rules?

The important rules for the golden thread under the BSA 2022 are given below.

Clear Legal Accountability: It is the responsibility of property owners, developers, managers, and the design team to share up-to-date data of the complete construction process.
Single Trusted Information Source: All safety data must be stored as a central, authoritative record, so there are no conflicting or outdated versions.
Complete Documentation: If there is any change in the construction material systems, safety assessments must be logged in the Golden Thread without any delay.
Digital Format: The information should be saved in a digital format and accessible to the duty holders.
Duty Holder Responsibility: They are legally responsible for managing, updating, and sharing accurate safety information for the high-risk buildings.

Building Safety Act Penalties and Consequences of Non-Compliance

Consequence	What It Means	Penalty Maximum
Breach of Building Regulations	Criminal offence for failing to comply with building standards set under the Act or related regulations.	Unlimited fine or up to 2 years imprisonment.
Failure to Comply with Notices	Ignoring compliance or stop notices issued by the regulator is treated as a criminal offence.	Unlimited fine or up to 2 years imprisonment.
Daily Default Fines	After conviction, courts can impose daily fines for continued compliance failures.	Daily fine up to £200 (Level 1 fine) plus the above.
Special Measures Orders	Courts can appoint a manager to take over building safety duties if failures persist.	Building taken into special measures by the tribunal.
Extended Enforcement Period	Non‑compliance action can be taken up to 10 years after work completion.	Civil and criminal enforcement up to 10 years.
Failure to Register or Maintain Safety Information	Principal Accountable Persons who do not register or keep required safety records commit a criminal offence.	Unlimited fine or up to 2 years imprisonment.

What Is the Criteria for Considering The Buildings Are HRBs

These criteria are used to identify that buildings are high-risk and not for the protection of the residents and occupants.

Buildings Included in HRBs:

Residential buildings that have 2 or more flats and their heights are 18m or have 7 or more storeys.
Care homes are also included in the high-risk buildings.
Hospitals that have heights equal to the high-risk buildings.
Mixed-use buildings with residential units.

Buildings That Are Not Included In HRBs

Buildings that are used as hostels.
Secure institutions like prisons and detention centres are also not high-risk buildings.
Military barracks and buildings with MOD provided living quarters.
Buildings that do not meet height requirements or storey threshold, even if they are residential buildings.

How does the Act affect the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO)?

Section 156 of the Building Safety Law 2022 introduces the major amendments to the Regulatory Reform Order 2005. These changes were effective from 1 October,2023. This act has increased the accountability of the responsible person to provide transparency and protection to the residents.

The important changes according to section 156

Responsible Persons must now record the entire fire risk assessment, not just significant findings.
The name of the person or organisation that is conducting the fire risk assessment must be recorded.
The document that clearly mentions the process of how fire safety is managed.
In the case of multi-occupied buildings, the UK residency address and contact details should be provided to the responsible person.
The responsible person should cooperate with the other responsible person to find a solution to any issue regarding fire safety.
When responsibility changes, all relevant fire safety information must be transferred to the incoming Responsible Person.
In buildings with two or more domestic premises, residents must receive clear, easy-to-understand fire safety information.
Courts can consider compliance (or non-compliance) with official Article 50 guidance when determining breaches of the Fire Safety Order.

What is the New Home Ombudsman Scheme, and how does it impact surveyors?

The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced the New Homes Ombudsman Scheme to improve protection for buyers of newly built homes. The scheme requires developers of new homes in England to become members and follow a New Homes Quality Code. It gives the buyer independence to resolve disputes if any problem occurs after purchasing the home.

How does it impact surveyors?

Surveyors are those who inspect the property and make a record of the defects and the process of inspection. They are not directly regulated by the New Homes Ombudsman Scheme, but it still affects them. Because their reports can be used in complaints or disputes by the homeowners.

That’s why the surveyors should be honest in their inspections and record all the identified defects in property records. Their work can serve as evidence if any issues in the houses occur after the inspection. So, they must show professionalism in their work.

How does the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 affect the Building Safety Act?

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 changes some rules in the Building Safety 2022 Act about fixing safety problems in tall or high-risk buildings. It says landlords must pay for safety steps like fire patrols or alarms, and tribunals can enforce these orders. Some costs for non-cladding defects can still be passed to leaseholders, but only up to legal limits. This law also makes sure building safety responsibilities cannot be avoided, even if a company becomes insolvent.

What Are The Repair Cost Limits for Leaseholders Under the Building Safety Act

The repair cost caps for the non-cladding walls, which apply only to qualifying leaseholders in the UK, are given below.

Property value	Greater London	Rest of England
Less than £175,000	£0	£0
£175,000 to £324,999	£0	£10,000
£325,000 to £1 million	£15,000	£10,000
More than £1 million but less than £2 million	£50,000	£50,000
More than £2 million	£100,000	£100,000

Is the Building Safety Act 2022 summary available?

Yes, the summary for the Safety Law 2022 is available at GOV. The UK and important points of the summary are given below:

The Act is the largest reform of building safety in decades, focusing on higher-risk residential buildings (HRBs).
This safety act is divided into 6 parts and 11 schedules. It covers the Building Safety Regulators (BSR), safety standards, remediation costs and New Homes Ombudsman.
In this updated law, a BSR is introduced who is accountable for compliance with legal rules and regulations.
An Interim Industry Competence Committee has been set up to improve safety standards and make sure residents’ voices are heard.
RICS is updating professional training and competency frameworks so that everyone working on high-risk buildings is fully prepared.
The previously planned Building Safety Manager (BSM) role has been removed, simplifying responsibilities for building professionals.
Explanatory notes provide clear guidance on rules, financial responsibilities, and where the law applies. This help the everyone to stay informed and confident.

Conclusion

The Building Safety Act 2022 was introduced to provide extra safety for higher-risk residential buildings in the UK. This safety law has given the residents rights and protects them from unfair costs for safety defects. The property owners and duty holders are accountable for the implications of these safety rules for the higher buildings.

Frequently Asked Questions

This safety act mainly applies to the higher-risk buildings, which is why low-rise buildings and smaller properties are exempted from it. The commercial properties, industrial units, and single-family houses are not included in the BSA.

This act received the royal assent on 28n April 2022 and become the important law in the UK. The changes are implemented in 2023 for the safety of the high-risk buildings.

The updated 2025 Building Safety law expands safety rules to include mid-rise buildings between 11m and 18m. It also makes the updated common assessment standard that are mandatory for all companies working under the act from 1 October 2025.

In Wales, this BSA applies to all high-risk buildings, but proper implementation will start from 1 July 2026. It is also introducing its own bills for the safety of the residents.

Scotland has separate rules for the security and protection of the building and residents. They do not follow the building safety law. They have to follow the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 and separate Scottish regulations. The Scottish buildings have rules only for defective constructions and cladding products.

In Northern Ireland, this law does not apply to buildings. They have separate rules and regulations for the safety of buildings. The Northern Ireland Executive is progressing a Defective Premises Bill to extend limitation periods for building defect claims (from 6 years to up to 30 years), bringing similarity in rules with England and Wales.

This rule applies to the high-risk buildings that aregenerally 18 meters tall or seven storeys. But for the 5 storeys or 11 meters, this rule is not valid. These buildings do not require any strict safety measures.

The Building Safety Law 2022 increases the responsibilities for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. They are involved in managing the design and surveying for the high-risk buildings. They can face legal or professional consequences if the buildings that are under their control fail to meet the safety act criteria.

This is a formal document that is required to follow the Safety Act for high-risk buildings. It outlines how the building’s fire and structural safety dangers are managed. This report should be maintained by the accountable person and submitted to the Building Safety Regulator.

This certificate is provided by the regulators after a complete review of the buildings. It gives the surety to the residents and owners that the building is safe for occupation.

Principal Designers:

These are professionals who are appointed by the government under the UK Construction Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015). Their legal duties are to make sure the design of the buildings complies with the safety duties and to identify the risk. They also have to manage and coordinate with health and safety during the phase of a construction project.

Principal Contractors:

They may be a person or an organisation who is appointed under the CDM 2015 to manage the safety and health during the construction phase. They are responsible for planning, monitoring and coordinating the work on the site.

The important homeowner protections under the Building Safety Act 2022, such as no charges for unsafe cladding, came into force on 28 June 2022. All higher-risk residential buildings must be registered with the Building Safety Regulator by 1 October 2023.

The Building Assessment Certificate process begins in April 2024, and all building control professionals must register with the regulator by 1 April 2024. Amendments under S.156 of the Act also start from 1 October 2023, updating fire safety regulations for these buildings.

These slabs are concrete floors that carry the weight of the columns above them without having a column directly below for support. The UK government is concerned about a potential risk called punching shear, where part of the slab could fail and cause structural damage.

If there are visible signs of cracks in the building, then homeowners should hire experts to check it. The structural engineer will perform a detailed safety analysis if problems are found.