Q&As

Is there any argument that an owner of a building is responsible for breaches of building regulations or does a tenant taking on a lease take on any past breaches?

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Produced in partnership with Chris Bryden of 4 King’s Bench Walk

Published on: 02 February 2018

The Local authority for the relevant area has a duty to enforce compliance with the Building Regulations. Where works have been carried out on a building, the local authority can take Enforcement action under the Buildings Act 1984 (BA 1984) which can lead to a significant fine on conviction following a prosecution under BA 1984, s 35. The limitation period is two years after completion of the work and the action is against the person who carried out the work. The local authority can also within a period of 12 months serve an enforcement

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Chris Bryden

Barrister, 4 King’s Bench Walk

Chris was called to the Bar in 2003 and since that time has built a busy practice across a range of areas, with an emphasis on Chancery practice. He enjoys a well-deserved reputation for his knowledge and expertise in each area. He appears regularly in the County Court, Family Court and the High Court as well as various specialist Tribunals, and has been involved in cases up to and including the Supreme Court. He regularly is instructed at Appellate level. He has extensive and wide-ranging experience particularly in the areas of wills, probate and inheritance disputes; property including adverse possession, boundary disputes and issues arising out of trusts of land; company and commercial work and financial remedies. Chris is head of the Family Group and head of the Property Team at 4KBW.

Chris is the author of numerous articles in publications such as the New Law Journal, Counsel and Family Law, amongst many other titles, and is the co-author of Social Media in the Workplace: A Handbook (2015, Jordan Publishing).

Jurisdiction(s):

United Kingdom

Key definition:

Building Regulations definition

What does Building Regulations mean?

The Building Regulations 2010 impose minimum standards for carrying out specified works in or about buildings, energy conservation and access to and use of buildings. Building Regulations apply to: new buildings or extensions; installing, extending or altering services or fittings; alterations affecting stability; fire safety; access; and use requirements.