New guidance from the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), produced with the support of eight other bodies*, has been released with the backing of the Building Safety Regulator’s Industry Competence Committee (ICC).

BESA’s Client's Guide to the Building Safety Act responds to mounting concern that many clients continue to prioritise cost and delivery speed over their legal duties under the Act, which has been in force since 2022. Research published by the Association late last year found that a significant number of clients were either unaware of, or choosing to overlook, their statutory responsibilities.

The new guide sets out clients’ legal duties and emphasises their leadership role in driving the cultural and procedural changes needed to safeguard building occupants and protect long-term health and well-being. It also reiterates that the building safety regime applies to all buildings, not only higher risk or high-rise residential developments.

Designed to simplify complex legislation, the guide uses plain English to help clients understand what is required of them and avoid the information overload that can lead to critical messages being missed.

Jon Vanstone, chair of the ICC, said the guide was a timely reminder of the central role clients play in delivering compliant, safe buildings. “The Building Safety Act places clear legal duties on clients. They set the tone for projects through their procurement decisions, appointments and allocation of resources. If those duties are taken seriously and supported by competent appointments and informed oversight, the quality and safety of outcomes will improve. If they are not, no amount of downstream control can fully compensate.” He added that guidance aligned with the Regulator’s Principles for Informed Clients was welcome, particularly where it supports consistent understanding across the industry.

The BESA guide defines who qualifies as a client, outlines the legal requirements of the role, and explains how to maintain compliance throughout a project. It also details the specific processes for higher-risk buildings, highlights common pitfalls, and signposts further resources.

Rachel Davidson, BESA’s director of specialist knowledge, said the guide was designed to “educate, not intimidate. It explains what good looks like so clients can make better, safer procurement decisions that also make sense for their businesses. By following the information in the guide, they can reduce project risks and avoid costly mistakes that lead to delays and redesigns.” She added that the guide would also help contractors explain key elements of the legislation to clients and reinforce the importance of appointing competent people and companies. “Contractors are duty-bound under the legislation to refuse to start work unless they are satisfied that the client is fully aware of their responsibilities,” she said.

Lilly Gallafent, CEO of real estate consultancy Cast, said the guide was a timely reminder that meaningful change must start with clients. “Clients have the power to drive a new culture through their supply chains, but they need to be willing to allocate risk fairly and focus on how their decisions will affect the operational life of their buildings. Pushing hard for cost savings at the start of a project can, when not managed appropriately, end up being very expensive in the long run.” She described the guide as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to embed lasting improvements in construction procurement.

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) also welcomed the publication. Linda Stevens, head of client development, said many clients still struggle to understand their legal duties. “Our own Client Guide includes information on building safety amongst other important subjects, and we very much welcome this additional resource from BESA. It can only be through everyone conforming to the Building Safety Act that we will ensure the built environment is safe for every community.”

The BESA Client’s Guide to the Building Safety Act is also supported by Constructing Excellence, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Construction Clients’ Leadership Group (CCLG), Cast Consultancy, SFG20, the Industry Competence Steering Group, Ackroyd Lowrie and the Safety & Health Engineering Partnership (SHEP).

The guide is available to download for free and will be the focus of a special building safety briefing at the Palace of Westminster on 5 May.

For more information on complying with the Building Safety Act, visit the BESA Hub.