The Principal Accountable Person

The Principal Accountable Person (PAP) is the individual or organisation legally accountable for the safety of a high-risk building. Every HRB has exactly one PAP.

Who can be the PAP

For most blocks, the PAP is:

• The freeholder if they directly manage the building.
• The Resident Management Company if the leaseholders own and run the freehold collectively.
• The Right to Manage company if RTM has been exercised.

The PAP can delegate operational duties (most do, to a managing agent) but accountability cannot be delegated.

What the PAP is accountable for

• Registering the building with the Building Safety Regulator.
• Maintaining the Golden Thread of building information.
• Preparing and reviewing the Safety Case Report.
• Operating the resident engagement strategy.
• Reporting mandatory occurrences.
• Cooperating with the Building Safety Regulator.

The PAP carries personal legal liability for these duties. The Act introduced criminal penalties for serious breaches.

Record the PAP

1. Open Site → Building Safety → Principal Accountable Person → Set PAP.
2. Pick the contact (individual or company) from the directory or add a new one.
3. Enter the start date in the role.
4. Optionally upload the appointment document.
5. Save.

Changing the PAP

When the PAP changes (a director resigns, a freeholder transfers the building, an RMC takes over):

1. Open the site.
2. Click Principal Accountable Person → Change.
3. Pick the new PAP.
4. Enter the change date.
5. Save.

The Building Safety Regulator must be notified of PAP changes. PropLink generates the notification template.

The previous PAP remains in the site's history with their dates.

Accountable persons for parts of the building

The Act recognises that several parties may have accountability for different parts. PropLink supports recording additional Accountable Persons alongside the Principal Accountable Person. For example, a roof-top plant room operated by a different lessee can have its own AP.

The PAP coordinates the others.

How the PAP appears in PropLink

The PAP shows on:

• The site's Building Safety dashboard.
• The HRB registration report.
• The Safety Case Report cover page (when generated).
• BuildingThread (when shipped) as the named accountable contact.