The Building Safety Levy, is a charge on newly built residential buildings introduced by Government to help fund the remediation of residential buildings, particularly high-rise structures with fire safety defects
The levy will be collected by local authorities on behalf of Central Government, as part of the building control process . The income raised from the levy will be used by central government to contribute to fixing building safety defects across England, ensuring residents are safe.
On 10 July 2025 the Government laid its draft Building Safety Levy regulations before Parliament setting out how the levy will operate.
The levy will come into operation on 1 October 2026 and will apply to all residential development in England, unless exempted. Please see the levy regulations and guidance:
View The Building Safety Levy Regulations 2025
View the Building Safety Levy GOV.UK Guidance
The levy is charged on ‘relevant’ building control applications and notices. Building control full plans applications, initial notices and higher-risk building (HRB) applications for works providing at least one dwelling or a bedspace in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) will have to include information for the purpose of the levy. If not included your application may be rejected (or in the case of initial notice must be rejected). More information for levy calculation will be provided at commencement notice stage.
Local authorities with building control responsibility will act as levy collecting authorities. Rates vary by local authority and whether the development is on previously developed land, please see the rates table.
Affordable housing supported housing and any housing built by non-profit registered providers (and their wholly owned subsidiaries) is exempt from the charge.
The levy charge is calculated by collecting authorities following provision of information and evidence at commencement notice stage by the developer. Payment must be made prior to the earlier of either the occupation or completion stage and must be made to the local authority acting as collecting authority (the local authority where the proposed buildings are located).
If a residential developer wishes to dispute the levy charge, a refund amount or the decision not to issue a refund, they can request a review by the collecting authority within 28 days. If a developer remains in dispute they can appeal the matter to the First Tier Tribunal.
Failure to pay the levy will mean the building control authority will withhold the completion certificate or reject the final certificate.
For more information on the levy please see the following publications by the UK Government:
- Legislation - The Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025.
- GOV.UK Building Safety Levy guidance (guidance, with methodology note, process maps and proformas).
- GOV.UK Building Safety Levy - draft levy rates.
