Changes introduced through the Building Safety Act 2022 amended the Building Regulations 2010 and introduced new duty-holder responsibilities.
Duty holders must plan, manage and monitor building work so that it complies with building regulations.
Read the legislation covering:
- the Building Safety Act 2022
- the Building Regulations 2010
- duty holders and competence under Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010
Duty-holder roles
The client must appoint competent people to carry out the required duty-holder roles.
The main duty holders are:
Client
The person or organisation for whom the building work is being carried out.
This includes domestic clients, such as homeowners arranging work on their own property.
Principal Designer
The designer responsible for planning, managing and monitoring the design work.
They must make sure the design complies with building regulations and coordinate the work of other designers.
Principal Contractor
The contractor responsible for planning, managing and monitoring the building work.
They must make sure the work is carried out in line with the agreed design and complies with building regulations.
One person or organisation may carry out more than one duty-holder role where appropriate.
Appointing duty holders
The client must make sure that each duty holder is competent.
This means they must have the appropriate:
- skills
- knowledge
- experience
- behaviours
Where more than one designer is working on the project, the client must appoint one as the Principal Designer.
Where more than one contractor is working on the project, the client must appoint one as the Principal Contractor.
The client must provide designers and contractors with relevant building information and allow enough time and resources for them to carry out their duties.
Submit the duty-holder declaration
The applicant must provide the duty holders’ details and a signed New Application Declaration when submitting the building control application.
The declaration confirms that the duty holders:
- agree to their appointment
- understand their responsibilities
- will carry out their duties under building regulations
If the Principal Contractor has not been appointed when the application is submitted, their details and signed declaration must be provided before building work begins.
Changing a duty holder
If a duty holder leaves the project, the client must appoint a competent replacement.
Use the Building Control tell us form to provide the new duty holder’s details and signed declaration.
Completing the work
When the building work is complete, the client, Principal Designer and Principal Contractor must sign the Completion Notice.
By signing the notice, the duty holders confirm that they have carried out their responsibilities and reasonably believe the work complies with building regulations.
We cannot issue a completion certificate until the required Completion Notice and supporting information have been provided.
Client responsibilities
The client is responsible for:
- appointing competent duty holders
- providing relevant information to designers and contractors
- making sure duty holders cooperate and communicate
- allowing enough time and resources for the work
- making sure inspections are booked at the appropriate stages
- appointing replacement duty holders where necessary
The person arranging the building work remains responsible for making sure suitable arrangements are in place. For domestic projects, this will usually be the homeowner.
Principal Designer responsibilities
The Principal Designer must:
- plan, manage and monitor the design work
- make sure the design complies with building regulations
- coordinate the work of other designers
- provide relevant information to the client and Principal Contractor
- make sure designers working under them are competent
- allow enough time and resources for the design work
Principal Contractor responsibilities
The Principal Contractor must:
- plan, manage and monitor the building work
- make sure the work follows the agreed design
- make sure the work complies with building regulations
- coordinate contractors working on the project
- provide relevant information to the client and Principal Designer
- raise any design problems with the Principal Designer
- make sure contractors working under them are competent
Competence guidance
You can register with BSI to access guidance on competence standards for: