Building Safety Levy (England)- Developer/Agent Checklist

Checklist to help developers prepare information for the Building Safety Levy through the building control process.

This page is based on the current regulations and guidance. As the Building Safety Levy is new, this information may change.

Quick facts

Payment: where a levy charge applies, payment must be made before the earlier of first occupation and building control completion/final certification.
Levy start date: applies to relevant building control applications and notices submitted on or after 1 October 2026.
Typical threshold: major residential development (for example, 10+ dwellings or 30+ purpose-built student accommodation bedspaces), subject to exemptions and “wider development” rules.
North East Lincolnshire current levy rates (per m² of chargeable floorspace): £13.76/m² standard; £6.88/m² previously developed land. The levy rates may change in the future. You can check the current rates here.

Step-by-step checklist

Before working through the checklist below, developers and agents may find it helpful to refer to Annex D of the national Building Safety Levy guidance. Annex D includes suggested Government forms for providing levy information at application stage and levy charging information at commencement stage.

1) Before you submit (triage)

Confirm the building control route (Local Authority Building Control full plans/ Registered Building Control Approver initial notice/Building Safety Regulator).
Check whether works are likely to be a major residential development (10+ dwellings or 30+ purpose-built student accommodation bedspaces) and whether works are part of a wider development under the same planning permission.
Identify any exemptions likely to apply (for example social/supported housing, exempt buildings, exempt persons) and start gathering evidence.

2) At building control submission / initial notice (basic levy information)

Provide planning permission reference(s) and site address details.
Provide number of dwellings and/or purpose-built student accommodation bedspaces created by the works (net increase where applicable).
Provide initial statement on whether exemptions may apply (and what evidence you will provide).
Provide initial statement on whether you believe the previously developed land discounted rate applies (evidence usually follows at commencement stage).

3) At first commencement notice (levy charging information + evidence)

Provide floorspace information (gross internal area schedules in m²) for chargeable dwellings/ purpose-built student accommodation and any communal areas for residents. Ensure measurements follow the required gross internal area approach and rounding (nearest whole m²; 0.5 rounds up).
Provide evidence to support previously developed land status if claiming the discounted rate (previously developed land is assessed against the planning redline and the regulatory definition).
Provide evidence for any exemption claims (tenure/provider status, planning obligations, supporting documents, etc.).
Registered Building Control Approver route: the client must also provide a copy of the first commencement notice and levy evidence to the collecting authority within two working days.

4) After submission of charging information

North East Lincolnshire Council (the collecting authority) will issue either a Levy Liability Notice or a Notice of No Charge.
The determination timescale runs from the statutory ‘receipt date’ (generally when the last of the required levy information, the first compliant commencement notice and supporting evidence are received).
If selected for a levy information spot check, you may be asked for further clarification/evidence.

5) Payment and levy payment certificate

Pay the levy to North East Lincolnshire Council (the collecting authority). Payment instructions will be provided with the levy determination.
Keep proof of payment/remittance details.
North East Lincolnshire Council will issue a Levy Payment Certificate within two weeks of receiving the full levy payment.

6) Completion / final certificate gate

Before completion/final certification, ensure levy position is clear: paid in full or Notice of No Charge received (and not cancelled).
Failure to pay will delay completion/final certification.

7) Changes, refunds, reviews and appeals (if applicable)

If you disagree with a levy decision, you may request a review within 28 days of the relevant notice or decision and may be able to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.

If the development changes and affects levy liability, you must notify the collecting authority.