High-rise residential buildings in England must be registered with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). It is an offence to allow residents to occupy one that is not registered. Registration is not a one-off job either, because the information has to be kept up to date.
Does your building count?
A building is in scope if it has at least two residential units and is either at least 18 metres tall or has at least seven floors. Connected structures may need to be registered as one building.
Hospitals, care homes, secure residential institutions, hotels, military premises and prisons are excluded. If your building is close to the threshold, measure it properly against the official guidance. Do not rely on an estimate.
Who must register it
The principal accountable person (PAP) must make sure the building is registered. The PAP can authorise someone else, such as a managing agent or legal representative, to make the application, but this must be done in writing.
An organisation applying must also name a single point of contact. That person cannot be the PAP or an accountable person.
What it costs
The application fee is £251 per building. This fee is listed in both the registration guidance and the BSR's charging scheme for 2026 to 2027. Asking the BSR to review a decision costs £302 under the guidance.
The deadlines to diary
| Event | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Registering a building | Before residents occupy it |
| Detailed structure and fire safety information | Within 28 days of submitting the application |
| Requesting a review of a decision | Within 21 days of the decision, excluding public holidays |
| Changes to the building summary, PAP or accountable persons | Within 14 days |
| Changes to structure or fire safety information | Within 28 days |
New buildings also need a relevant completion or final certificate before they can be occupied.
What to prepare first
The 28-day deadline is the one that catches people out, because the application itself is the easy part. Before applying, gather the building's details, how many floors and homes it has, who the accountable persons are, and what is known about the structure and fire safety.
If that information is in old handover files or with a previous agent, start looking early. Gaps are much easier to resolve before the clock starts.
After registration
Changes to who is responsible, or to the building's structure and fire safety details, must be reported within the limits above. A change of freeholder or managing arrangement, or a major refurbishment, should prompt someone to ask whether the BSR needs to be told.
Registration also sits alongside the wider high-rise regime, including safety case reports, a resident engagement strategy and a complaints system.
This guide is general information for England at 1 November 2026, not legal advice. Your lease and your building's circumstances may change how it applies to you, and the law may change after this date.