June 16, 2026
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For occupied, higher-risk residential buildings, the responsibility for managing building safety risks remains throughout the building’s lifecycle.
Accountable Persons (APs) and the Principal Accountable Person (PAP) are responsible for managing building safety risks (i.e., the spread of fire and structural failure). While APs and the PAP cannot delegate their legal obligations, they may engage organisations or individuals, such as managing agents, to perform duties on their behalf. However, ultimate accountability and liability for building safety remain with the APs and PAP.
These duties are detailed, evidence-based, and time-sensitive, requiring clear systems, accurate information, and robust documentation.
Practical support for APs and PAPs
Our Building Safety Occupation Service offers practical advice and hands-on support to simplify compliance, reduce uncertainty, and enhance risk management in the following areas:
Many organisations possess extensive building safety information, but often struggle to determine whether it is complete, up to date, and usable.
For APs and PAPs, this can create uncertainty, as information may be dispersed across teams, systems, consultants, and legacy records. Responsibilities may be unclear, and existing processes may not be sufficiently embedded or documented to support regulator engagement.
We assess current arrangements, identify areas requiring attention, and support APs and PAPs in developing practical, proportionate solutions.
Our expertise
Mark Chubb, Associate Director at Safer Sphere, has extensive experience regulating occupied higher-risk residential buildings. He has extensive experience working for a local authority with Fire and Rescue Services and has direct experience working for the Building Safety Regulator, including helping to establish its Part 4 in-occupation service.
He has established strong working relationships across the sector, including with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association’s National Fire Safety Joint Inspection Team, and several local authorities.
This expertise enables APs and PAPs to receive informed, practical support from someone who understands both the regulatory context and the operational challenges of managing occupied higher-risk residential buildings.
Our approach
We work with APs and PAPs to understand current arrangements, review available information, identify gaps, and support the development of clear next steps.
This support may include assistance with documentation, governance, reporting processes, resident engagement, regulator requests, and the systems required to manage building safety duties over time.
Find out more
Our Building Safety Occupation Service offers clear, practical support for APs and PAPs managing occupied higher-risk residential buildings.