Dangerous Structures and Public Safety
Hackney Council has statutory duties to ensure that:
- All structures within the borough that are considered dangerous are made safe within the shortest period of time possible.
- Any demolition work undertaken within the borough is carried out with necessary safety precautions, and in such a way that adjacent properties where appropriate are made safe.
If the building or structure poses potential danger to the safety of people, we take the appropriate action to remove the danger. We have legal powers to require the owners of buildings, or structures to remedy the defects, or alternativley we direct our contractors to carry out necessary works to make the building and/or structure safe.
What is a dangerous structure?
The term 'Dangerous structure' covers not only buildings or parts of buildings i.e. loose slates or tiles, but such things as garden walls, fences or hoardings. In fact, any structure which could by its condition endanger persons.
Dangerous structures fall mainly into two categories:
- Immediately dangerous: structures that are at risk of collapse and must be secured for public safety. The owner will normally be recharged for emergency works carried out in these cases.
- Dangerous but not imminently so: structures, which further to a survey are unstable but not immediately dangerous. In these cases the owner is given a reasonable time to remove the danger. Failure to respond may result in a Magistrates Court Order being obtained.
The Building Control Service work closely with the Police, Fire and other emergency services and external government agencies such as the HSE and the Environmental Agency.
What makes a building or structure dangerous?
Buildings can become dangerous for a variety of reasons ranging from settlement or old age, vandalism or design defects, to more dramatic causes such as vehicle impact, fire, explosion or storm damage. The Surveyor can request a building owner to undertake whatever work is required to make a building safe or, when the need arises, employ a contractor to carry out whatever work is necessary to remedy a dangerous situation. In extreme cases this can result in demolition of the building itself. Buildings can become dangerous at any time. In order to deal with this a Building Control Surveyor is on call day and night.
What will Building Control do?
The Building Control Surveyor will visit the site to inspect the structure and to arrange for appropriate action to be taken to remove any danger.
If the structure is considered potentially dangerous, the owner of the property will be contacted and requested to arrange for the structure to be removed or repaired. The area surrounding the structure is often barriered off to ensure safety is maintained whilst the structure is being dealt with.
If the structure is considered immediately dangerous and likely to collapse, the Building Control Surveyor will arrange for a contractor to remove or repair the structure as soon as possible, normally on the same day. The contractors costs are recoverable from the owner of the property.
Remember if in doubt ring us!
If you consider that a structure of any type or size may be dangerous, contact Hackney Building Control now!
Reporting a dangerous structure
If you consider that a building or structure may be dangerous, contact Hackney Building Control using the details on the right.
Page updated: 7 Jan 2010