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The law

Higher-Risk Buildings (Key Building Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023

They give the regulator one agreed set of facts about each higher-risk building, so its safety can be judged on the same record everywhere. They list the key building information the principal accountable person gives the Building Safety Regulator for a higher-risk building, and the deadlines for sending and updating it.

Higher-risk buildingChecked against legislation.gov.uk on .
On this page

In short

  • The principal accountable person must give the Building Safety Regulator key building information for each higher-risk building (reg. 19).
  • Within 28 days of applying to register the building (reg. 20).
  • Changes are reported within 28 days of the principal accountable person learning of them (reg. 21). In force 6 April 2023. Golden Ledger does not send this information for you.

Your line

Three example buildings against the 11 metre and 18 metre lines. The 26 metre building is marked: key building information is due for higher-risk buildings.

Key building information is due for buildings above the gold line.Illustrative

Does this apply to my building?

Which buildings need key building information?

Higher-risk buildings: at least 18 metres high or at least 7 storeys, with at least 2 residential units (Building Safety Act 2022 s.65(1)).

How height and storeys are measured
Who has to send it?

The principal accountable person for the building (reg. 19).

Principal accountable person

What you need to do

  1. Provide key building information for each higher-risk building (reg. 19).

  2. Send it within 28 days of applying to register the building (reg. 20).

  3. Notify the Building Safety Regulator of any change within 28 days of becoming aware of it (reg. 21).

The detail

What information is it?

The information set out in regs 3 to 18 (reg. 2).

  • Use: the principal use and any other uses, described in one of eight categories (regs 4 to 7)
  • Ancillary buildings, and whether any is itself a higher-risk building (reg. 3)
  • The materials of the external wall and the insulation of the external wall, with percentages (regs 8 and 9)
  • The roof and any fixtures on the external wall or roof (regs 10 and 11)
  • The main structural material and type of structural design (reg. 12)
  • Storeys below ground and staircases (regs 13 and 14)
  • Energy supply and energy storage (regs 15 and 16)
  • The evacuation strategy and the fire and smoke control equipment (regs 17 and 18)
Is this the golden thread?

No: the golden thread information is set by a separate instrument, SI 2024/41; these regulations are the source of the key building information list.

What changed and when

  1. 6 April 2023: the regulations come into force in England (reg. 1(1)).

Penalties

  • These regulations create no offence or penalty of their own. The offences in this area are in the Building Safety Act 2022: occupying a higher-risk building that is not registered (s.77) and, where people are put at critical risk, breaking a relevant duty (s.101). See the Building Safety Act 2022 guide.

How Golden Ledger helps

When your council sends you a letter, Golden Ledger keeps one clear record of your building, which your council reviews. It asks for some of the same facts, such as the building's use, structure, external walls and staircases. Golden Ledger does not send key building information to the Building Safety Regulator for you.

Sources and checked date

Checked against legislation.gov.uk on . What has changed

General information, not legal advice. Golden Ledger shows which rules and funding routes may apply, based on your answers. A qualified professional should confirm them. Golden Ledger does not enforce the law, is not the Building Safety Regulator and does not give legal advice. Your council reviews what you send. Fire safety law is enforced by your fire and rescue authority. In higher-risk buildings, the Building Safety Regulator also enforces the duties in Part 4 of the Building Safety Act 2022.

Got a letter from your council?

Enter the code to claim your building. It is free for owners.