Mandatory Occurrence Reporting: Reporting Structural Incidents to the Regulator
The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced a new system called Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR).
It requires owners and Principal Accountable Persons (PAPs) of Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) residential blocks over 18 metres or seven storeys to report significant safety incidents or near misses to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as soon as they happen.
For structural safety, this means unexpected cracks, movement, subsidence, or partial failures can no longer be ignored or handled informally. They must be formally reported, recorded and addressed to remain compliant and protect residents.
What Counts as a Mandatory Occurrence?
A mandatory occurrence is any event or defect that could seriously affect the safety of the building if not addressed. Structural examples include:
- Sudden, unexplained cracking in load-bearing walls or slabs.
- Movement or rotation of columns, cores or stairwells.
- Signs of foundation settlement or ground movement affecting stability.
- Failure of key structural connections or fixings.
- Partial collapse or falling elements (e.g. balconies, parapets, panels).
- Structural damage following fire, explosion or severe weather.
If an event could have caused injury or significant damage, it should be treated as reportable.
Reporting to the Building Safety Regulator
Under MOR rules:
- Prompt reporting is essential: The PAP must notify the BSR as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of the occurrence.
- Provide clear details: The report should describe the defect or failure, its location, potential consequences, and any immediate actions taken.
- Follow up with further information: Additional evidence (photos, reports, structural appraisals) may be required as the investigation develops.
- Keep it recorded in your Golden Thread: All MORs form part of the building’s lifetime safety record and may be reviewed during the Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) process.
Failure to report can result in regulatory enforcement, reputational damage and increased liability if a later incident occurs.
Setting Up an Internal Reporting Process
To comply with MOR and manage risk effectively, HRB owners and managers should:
- Create a clear internal process for staff, contractors and residents to flag structural concerns.
- Train building management teams to recognise reportable incidents (e.g. cracks in structural elements vs cosmetic issues).
- Keep a log of all inspections and reports in your Golden Thread.
- Engage a competent structural engineer quickly to investigate significant concerns and prepare formal evidence for the regulator.
- Document actions taken to mitigate risk after each occurrence.
This approach ensures incidents are handled consistently and avoids delays in regulatory reporting.
How Structures Made Easy Helps
At Structures Made Easy, we help Principal Accountable Persons comply with MOR by:
- Rapidly assessing and verifying structural safety incidents when they arise.
- Providing Chartered Structural Engineer reports to support MOR submissions.
- Advising on immediate risk mitigation (temporary works, monitoring, strengthening).
- Updating your Structural Safety Report and Golden Thread after an occurrence.
- Offering portfolio support for landlords managing multiple HRBs.
With our support, you can respond to incidents swiftly, stay compliant and demonstrate proactive safety management to the regulator.
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