Building Safety Levy

The Building Safety Levy is a government charge introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022. It has been introduced to help fund the remediation of residential buildings with historical safety defects. 

The levy forms part of wider building safety reforms following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. It is intended to raise approximately £3.4 billion nationally and ensure that developers contribute towards remediation costs rather than leaseholders or taxpayers. 

The levy applies to relevant building control applications submitted on or after 1 October 2026. Applications submitted before this date will not generally be subject to the levy, even if they are amended later. 

No. The Building Safety Levy applies in England only. 

No. Smaller developments below the applicable thresholds are generally exempt. 

The levy is payable by the developer. It is not payable by individual homebuyers or residents. 

The levy is calculated using the gross internal area (GIA) of chargeable residential floorspace. Charges are applied per square metre using rates set by government. 

Yes. Developments on previously developed (brownfield) land receive a 50% discount. 

No. The Building Safety Levy is separate from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charges and Section 106 planning obligations. Developers may still be liable for those requirements where applicable. 

The levy must be paid before the development is occupied or completed.   

The collecting authority may withhold a completion certificate until the levy has been paid or all levy requirements have been satisfied. Where a Registered Building Control Approver is involved, the authority may also refuse to accept the final certificate. 

No. The Building Safety Levy is administered through the building control process and is separate from the planning application process. 

LBCP acts as the collecting authority on behalf of Blaby District Council, Harborough District Council, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, Melton Borough Council, Oadby & Wigston Borough Council and Rutland County Council and is responsible for assessing, collecting and transferring levy payments to government. This applies even where a Registered Building Control Approver is appointed. 

Yes. Applicants can request a review by the collecting authority and may subsequently appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Requests for review must normally be submitted within 28 days of receiving the levy notice. 

Changes to the development may affect levy liability. Updated information must be provided and revised charges may apply. 

Applications can be submitted up to 30 September 2026 provided all information required for validation has been supplied. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications at least 5 to 10 working days before this date to allow time for validation checks. 

No. Normal Building Control application fees apply. There is no separate pre-registration fee. 

Yes. Client and duty holder details can be amended if circumstances change during the project. 

No. A change in developer or client name does not, by itself, create levy liability. 

Applications submitted prior to implementation should continue to be dealt with under the applicable Building Control requirements. Applicants should ensure works commence within the relevant validity period and seek professional advice where necessary. 

Planning permission and Building Control approval operate separately. Developers must continue to comply with all planning conditions, commencement requirements and implementation deadlines.