Compliance learning hub
Compliance (general)
Cross-cutting guidance for property managers and duty holders: contractor procurement and vetting, evidence packs, insurance requirements and audit readiness across fire, water, lifts, electrical and HVAC.
In short
The duty holder is the person or organisation with legal control of premises or work activities. They must know their statutory duties, appoint competent contractors, and hold contemporaneous evidence of compliance. Insurers, mortgagees and enforcing authorities all inspect the same evidence pack.
Legal snapshot
What the law says
- Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
- The overarching duty, reasonably practicable protection for employees and others.
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Risk assessment, competent person appointments, emergency procedures.
- CDM Regulations 2015
- Duties on clients, principal designers and principal contractors for construction and refurbishment works.
- Building Safety Act 2022
- Accountable Person and Principal Accountable Person duties for higher-risk buildings.
On the ground
Common problems & fixes
- No single evidence pack, records scattered across emailFix, Centralised compliance register per building with dated certificates, next-due dates and named responsible person.
- Contractor accreditations expiredFix, Verify SafeContractor, CHAS or Constructionline status at PQQ stage and re-verify annually.
- Insurance policy warranty on statutory maintenance breachedFix, Match compliance frequencies to insurer wording; any deviation notified in writing before renewal.
- Enforcement or improvement notice served on adjacent siteFix, Treat as a self-audit trigger, the same enforcing officer will visit similar assets in the portfolio.
UK Compliance Duty Holder Guide: Roles, Evidence & Enforcement
Who is the duty holder, what they must do, the evidence pack that satisfies insurers and enforcing authorities, and how enforcement action escalates.
Read the full guideAll compliance guides
9 guides
ComplianceWhy Purpose-Built Flats Fail Fire Safety Audits
51% of fire safety audits at purpose-built flats of 6 to 9 storeys were unsatisfactory in 2026, the worst rate of any building type in England.
Read guide →
ComplianceContractor Vetting Guide: What Each Accreditation Certifies
Contractor vetting guide: what BAFE, FIA, LCA, LEIA, NICEIC, NAPIT, Gas Safe, REFCOM, SSIP and UKAS actually certify, and how to check each register.
Read guide →
ComplianceManaging Agent Compliance Obligations: The Full Duty Map
Managing agent compliance obligations: Fire Safety Order Article 5, Building Safety Act accountable persons, 2022 Regulations, section 20, RICS code.
Read guide →
ComplianceLocal Authority Estates Compliance Checklist and Duties
Local authority estates compliance checklist: HSE enforcement on council premises, Procurement Act 2023, RSH Safety and Quality Standard, Awaab's Law.
Read guide →
ComplianceSchool Compliance Checklist: Statutory Duties for Estates
School compliance checklist for England: who the employer is, DfE GEMS duties, fire, asbestos, RAAC, legionella, electrical, gas, lifts, playground checks.
Read guide →
ComplianceWhy We Built TICDesk, and Who Backed It
TICDesk is built by DealFlowAgent, which raised $750,000 led by Long Journey Ventures. Why the UK compliance market is too fragmented for building owners to buy from safely.
Read guide →
ComplianceCare Home Compliance Checklist: Statutory Duties
Care home compliance checklist: fire, water, electrical, gas, lift, asbestos and HVAC duties with frequencies, the regulation and CQC evidence.
Read guide →
ComplianceHotel Compliance Checklist: Statutory Duties and Dates
Hotel compliance checklist: fire risk assessment, alarms, fire doors, PAT, EICR, lifts, water and spa pools, TR19 Grease and F-gas, with frequencies.
Read guide →FAQ
Frequently asked
- What is a duty holder?
- The person or organisation with legal control of premises or work activity, often the employer, building owner, managing agent or Responsible Person, depending on the regulation.
- What goes in a compliance evidence pack?
- Statutory certificates (FRA, EICR, LRA, LOLER, PAT), the current risk assessment, remedial works records, contractor accreditations, and a compliance register with next-due dates.
- How do I vet a compliance contractor?
- Third-party accreditation (BAFE, NICEIC, LCA, SAFed), professional indemnity and public liability insurance, named engineer competence, and references for similar-scale sites.
Need compliance handled now?
Submit a brief and the desk will match you with three verified specialists in 48 hours. Free for building owners and managers, accreditation-verified, no pressure to appoint.
Submit a brief, free