The Building Safety Levy (BSL) is a charge introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022 and implemented through the Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025 to help fund the remediation of historical building safety defects in residential buildings, including unsafe cladding.
The levy is a charge that developers must pay on certain building control applications / notices before completion of the building work or occupation of the building (whichever is earlier). The levy will be charged on certain applications for works that result in new dwellings and/or new bedspaces in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and change of use to residential purposes.
Local authorities are responsible for administering and collecting the levy before transferring the proceeds to central government.
When does the levy apply?
The Building Safety Levy applies to building control applications for building control approval submitted on or after 1 October 2026.
The levy does not apply to existing applications for dwellings or PBSA that were submitted before 1 October 2026. If such existing applications are varied after 1 October 2026 (for example via a further full plans application for the same works, amendment notice or change control application) the levy does not apply to such applications. If an application submitted before 1 October 2026 is rejected for failing to meet the required standards and is resubmitted on or after that date, it will be liable for the levy.
Which developments are liable to pay?
Applications for building control approval for works that relate to the provision of at least one dwelling or at least one PBSA bedspace must include Building Safety Levy information, even where the development may ultimately qualify for an exemption (such as social housing or supported housing). Applications or notices that do not include the required information will be rejected. Where an exemption is claimed, the relevant evidence must be submitted before or at commencement, as required by the Regulations.
The levy is chargeable on major residential developments, including:
- developments creating 10 or more dwellings
- developments creating 30 or more bedspaces in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and
- mixed-use developments that include qualifying residential floorspace
Developments creating fewer than 10 dwellings or fewer than 30 PBSA bedspaces, as well as developments that are exempt from the levy, are not chargeable. However, these applications must still include the required levy information. Following assessment, the collecting authority will issue a Notice of No Charge.
How is the levy calculated?
The levy is charged on the amount of chargeable residential floorspace within a development.
The amount payable depends on:
- the total chargeable residential floorspace (measured in square metres)
- the levy rate applicable to the local authority area ;and
- whether the development is on previously developed (brownfield) land, which benefits from a reduced levy rate
Following receipt of a valid commencement notice, the collecting authority will calculate the levy and issue a Building Safety Levy Liability Notice confirming the amount payable.
A levy liability notice is issued when developers submit a commencement notice for:
- an application for Building Control approval with full plans to a Building Control Authority or Building Safety Regulator (BSR) or
- an initial notice via a Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA).
Building Control Applications should be submitted via our ;make a building regulations application page
Building Safety Levy rates
Levy rates are set by the Government. Rates vary by local authority and whether the development is on previously developed land.
The levy rates per square metre for each local authority area are laid out in Schedule 3 (see chapter 5).
Exemptions
The following developments are exempt:
- affordable housing and supported housing
- care homes, hospices, hotels, hostels, hospitals, school accommodation, almshouses and temporary accommodation for homeless people.
- housing built by an exempt person (defined in regulation 13), as a non-profit registered provider of social housing or a company that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a non-profit registered provider of social housing
Building Safety Levy Forms
Applicants will be required to provide Building Safety Levy charging information as part of the Building Control process where development falls within the scope of the levy. The forms below have been produced by Southend-on-Sea City Council Building Control and should be completed and submitted where applicable.
Applicants who submitted their Building Control application through the MySouthend Portal will also be able to access these forms through their MySouthend account. Alternatively, the forms below can be downloaded, completed and returned by email to BuildingControlRegistration@southend.gov.uk.
Application Stage Form
The Building Safety Levy Charging Information (Application Stage) )(editable PDF)) should be submitted alongside a Building Control application where the proposed development may be subject to the levy and the application is not submitted through the MySouthend Portal. The information provided will be used to determine whether the development falls within the scope of the levy and to support the levy assessment.
Commencement Stage Form
The ;Building Safety Levy Charging Information (Commencement Stage) (editable PDF)) ;should be submitted with the first commencement notice (or equivalent notice), where required. This form collects the charging information needed to enable the collecting authority to assess and calculate any levy that may be payable.
Payment and enforcement
The levy must be paid to the collecting authority before the earlier of;
(a) the completion notice date, and
(b) the first date of occupation.
The whole levy charge for the building control application must be paid before a completion certificate can be issued in respect of any of the works covered by that application. Where the levy liability in relation to a building control application remains unpaid, the collecting authority may withhold a levy payment certificate until payment is received in full.
Disputes and appeals
If a developer disagrees with the levy amount, the refund amount or a decision not to issue a refund, they can request a review.
They must do this within 28 days of receiving the levy notice. If the matter is not resolved after the review, the developer may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.
Key changes for Building Control
Levy information must be included in building control applications.
Payment must be made before occupation or completion.
Failure to pay will result in withholding of completion certificates.
Contact us
For general Building Safety Levy enquiries, please email ;BSLAdministration@southend.gov.uk.
Building Control applications should be submitted via our ;make a building regulations application.
Further information
Further guidance is available from the Government, including: