Building Control Act 1989 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 6 · Miscellaneous
34. Presumptions and defences
Feedback & supportIn any proceedings instituted under this Act for the commencement or carrying out of any building works on any premises in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the building regulations, the owner of the premises at the time the building works were commenced or carried out is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to be the person commencing or carrying out the building works.
building works
“building works” means —(a)the erection, extension or demolition of a building;(b)the alteration, addition or repair of a building;(c)the provision, extension or alteration of any air conditioning service or ventilating system in or in connection with a building,and includes any fixed installation works, and any site formation works connected with or carried out for the purpose of paragraph (a), (b) or (c);
Where anything is required under this Act to be done by the owner of a building, and there is more than one owner of the building, it is a defence to any prosecution for failing to do that thing —
building
“building” means any permanent or temporary building or structure and includes —(a)a hut, shed or roofed enclosure;(b)an earth retaining or stabilising structure, whether permanent or temporary;(c)a dock, wharf or jetty;(ca)a floating structure, not being a boat or vessel, constructed or to be constructed on a flotation system that —(i)is or is to be supported by water;(ii)is not intended for or useable in navigation; and(iii)is or is to be permanently moored;(d)a culvert, crossing, bridge, underpass or tunnel;(da)a fixed installation;(e)a sewage treatment plant, sewer, drain, swimming pool or any non‑proprietary type of concrete tank for the storage of any solid, liquid or gaseous product;(f)a shelter provided under the Civil Defence Shelter Act 1997; and(g)such other erection or structure (whether permanent or temporary) as the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, declare to be a building;
that the thing was done by another owner of the building; or
that any notice or order in respect of the thing required under this Act to be served on the owner was served on another owner of the building and not on the person charged.