13. Dangerous buildings
Feedback & supportWhere in the opinion of the Building Authority any building has been rendered dangerous or liable to become dangerous by fire, wind, rain, dilapidation, use, lack of fire escapes or any other cause, the Building Authority may by order served on the owner declare that building to be dangerous or liable to become dangerous.
An order made under subsection (1) may —
require the demolition of the whole or part of the building;
require that the building be made safe generally;
specify work that must be done to make the building safe;
require that shoring shall be erected and may specify the manner and location thereof;
require a fence or hoarding for the protection of the public;
require the closure of the building; and
specify the time within which the demolition, shoring, erection of fencing or hoarding, closure or other work or thing required by that order shall be commenced and the time within which the same shall be completed.
Where the owner of a building which in the opinion of the Building Authority has been rendered dangerous or liable to become dangerous by fire, wind, rain, dilapidation, use, lack of fire escapes or any other cause, cannot be found or fails to comply with the requirements of an order served under this section, the Building Authority may carry out or cause to be carried out the work specified in the order or such other work as he considers to be necessary and the costs and expenses thereof shall be recoverable from the owner.
owner
“owner”, in relation to any premises, means the person for the time being receiving the rent of the premises whether on his own account or as agent or trustee for any other person or as receiver or who would receive the rent if the premises were let to a tenant and includes the person whose name is entered in the Valuation List authenticated under section 15 of the Property Tax Act;
In cases of emergency the Building Authority may carry out or cause to be carried out such investigation or work as may appear to him to be necessary either without notice to the owner, or before or after that notice, and so far as it is in the opinion of the Building Authority attributable to that emergency the cost thereof shall be recoverable from the owner. The decision of the Building Authority that the particular case is one of emergency shall be final and binding on all persons.
Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of an order issued under this section shall be guilty of an offence.