The Building Safety Act Industry Report 2026

Building safety awareness is growing. But can the industry prove compliance?

Awareness of the Building Safety Act (BSA) continues to grow, but BESA's 2026 research reveals that demonstrating competence, evidencing compliance and securing greater client engagement remain significant challenges.

Based on responses from industry professionals, the findings highlight growing confidence in dutyholder responsibilities, but also frustration with information overload, commercial pressures and clients who are not keeping pace.

Key findings include:

• 74% have seen no significant change in client behaviour 

• 36% struggle to demonstrate competence in practice 
• 21% of micro and small businesses have made no significant changes in response to the Act

• 30% are confident they can evidence competence and compliance for projects more than ten years old

Download the free report to discover the latest findings and what they mean for your business.

The findings reveal an industry making progress, but facing growing pressure to demonstrate that competence and compliance are embedded in everyday practice.

From verifying workforce and supply chain competence to maintaining accurate project records, the challenge is no longer simply understanding the Building Safety Act. It's being able to prove that its requirements are being met.

The report explores:

• Dutyholder responsibilities: How organisations are implementing and evidencing compliance
• Competence assurance: The importance of demonstrating skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours in practice
• Client engagement: The impact of procurement decisions, commercial pressures and client understanding
• Supply chain competence: The challenges of verifying the competence of those appointed to carry out work
• Historic compliance: The growing importance of maintaining accessible, traceable project records
• Organisational change: How businesses of different sizes are responding to the legislation

BESA is committed to helping businesses understand their responsibilities, demonstrate competence and improve building safety standards.

Through our Building Safety Act Hub, members and the wider industry can access practical guidance, training and resources, including:

• The Client's Guide to the Building Safety Act
• BESA Guidance Framework for Principal Contractor Competence (PAS 8672)
• Demonstrating Competence Under the Building Safety Act
• Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours (SKEB) Competence Toolkits
• Building Safety Act training through BESA Academy

Together, we're building a better industry.