Buildings and structures may become dangerous as a result of old age, deterioration or settlement or by more dramatic causes such as an explosion, fire, vehicle impact or storm damage.
Our experienced building control surveyors and structural engineers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to investigate situations where there is an imminent danger of collapse of a building or a serious hazard to the public.
We have powers under section 61 of the London Building Act 1939 to deal with any building or structure that is in a dangerous condition or overloaded.
Report a dangerous structure
If you wish to report an imminent danger relating to a building or structure within the borough (not trees), call Building Control Customer Services on 020 8937 5210, Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.
Outside of our normal hours, please contact our emergency number 020 8937 1234.
Please ensure that you provide an accurate address or the location of the danger together with as much information as possible including:
- the type of danger (vehicular impact, fire, dangerous boundary wall or collapsed roof)
- your contact details including your name, address, phone number (including mobile number) and, if available, your email. This is important if we need to contact you for further information and to keep you informed.
What happens next
In the case of imminent danger or collapse of a building or structure, the local authority will use its powers, as necessary, where the owner is not is the position to undertake necessary remedial works (or the contractor is not competent / able) to make safe within an agreed time-frame.
This may include (but is not restricted to) the provision of fencing / hoarding, support scaffolding, demolition or any other means to ensure public safety.
All costs incurred will be recoverable from the responsible person (usually the owner of the building / structure) including costs related to surveying, emergency contractors, administration / management of the works and service of notice.
It is usually cheaper for the owner to arrange their own contractors to undertake the work where possible.
In cases where a less imminent danger exists we will make a report to the owner of the building or structure to make it safe or to demolish it.