How do I find out whether my building is higher-risk?

There are three checks, in this order: search the Building Safety Regulator's (BSR) public register by postcode, ask your managing agent or freeholder, and if you are still unsure, contact BSR.

1. Search the BSR register

BSR holds a register of high-rise residential buildings in England, which is the same group GOV.UK calls higher-risk buildings: at least 7 storeys or 18 metres high, with at least 2 residential units. You can search it by postcode using the public register. For each structure in a building the register holds its height, number of floors and when it was built, plus details of who is responsible for the building (GOV.UK).

A building must be registered with BSR before people can live in it, so an occupied higher-risk building should be listed.

2. Ask your managing agent or freeholder

The principal accountable person is the organisation or individual responsible for the safety of the building's structure, external walls and roof. Other accountable persons are responsible for the common parts residents use, such as corridors, lobbies and staircases. Your managing agent usually acts for them. Ask for the building's registered height, number of storeys and number of residential units, and ask whether it is registered.

3. Check the criteria yourself

If the building is not listed, do not assume it is outside the regime. Height and storeys are counted using a legal method: storeys below ground level and rooftop plant levels are ignored, and an open roof garden is not a storey. A building can also be assessed in sections. Read What is a higher-risk building? for the full test.

If you are still not sure

Contact BSR through its contact page, or ask a building control professional, before you start any work. Getting this wrong matters because starting building work that needs approval without it is a criminal offence.

Next step

Once you know your building is higher-risk, read Do I need BSR approval to refurbish a flat in a high-rise block? or try the BSR screener.

Sources: GOV.UK, Find a high-rise residential building; GOV.UK, Criteria for being a higher-risk building during the occupation phase (updated 28 May 2025).