Part 4: Higher-risk buildings Registration and certificates Section 79: Occupied building: duty to apply for building assessment certificate Effect
As part of the new building safety regime, the Principal Accountable Person will be responsible for registering the higher-risk buildings that they are responsible for with the Building Safety Regulator (see section 77 for the obligation to do so). The Principal Accountable Person will also be required to apply for a Building Assessment Certificate as per this section.
	This section allows the Building Safety Regulator to require applications for the Building Assessment Certificate. This section will enable the regulator to issue a notification to the Principal Accountable Person, directing them to apply for the Building Assessment Certificate. The Principal Accountable Person must then apply for the Building Assessment Certificate within 28 days of the notice being given.
	Failing to apply for a certificate in the requisite timescale, when directed to do so by the Building Safety Regulator, without a reasonable excuse, will be an offence. If found liable on summary conviction a Principal Accountable Person can face an unlimited fine or imprisonment up to 12 months, or both; and on conviction on indictment can face a fine, imprisonment for up to 2 years, or both. In relation to an offence committed before paragraph 24(2) of Schedule 22 to the Sentencing Act 2020 comes into force, the reference to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.