Vol. 399 No. 5
19 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of complaints, from owners of high-rise apartment blocks, of financial hardship caused by their having to pay sums in some cases in the region of £10,000 to obtain certificates to certify to the structural stability of the building in the event of accidential damage, he has any plans to modify legislation governing this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have no proposals to amend the provisions of the Local Government (Multi-Storey Buildings) Act, 1988. The Act which takes account of the report of the task force on multi-storey buildings requires the owners of buildings of five storeys or more, constructed since 1950, to have the buildings appraised by a competent person and to submit a certificate in the appropriate prescribed form to the relevant local authority.
The requirements of the Act are intended for the general safety of owners and occupiers of buildings and the general public who may use such buildings. The terms on which work is undertaken by competent persons including any costs involved are matters between those persons and the owners concerned.
