Legal / Regulatory Flashcards
What are “dilapidations”?
The state of disrepair of a leased property, and the legal obligation for tenant to rectify disrepair at the end of a lease.
What would a “Schedule of dilapidations” typically include?
Relevant lease/tenancy obligations
Any lease clauses breached
Remedial works undertaken or proposed to correct breach
Costs for those works
Two types: “Interim” and “terminal”.
Sometimes “Scott schedule” column allows each side to write their views.
What is the “Dilapidations Protocol”?
Steps the landlord/tenant takes to try and reach dilaps agreement, prior to Court proceedings/mediation etc.
Starts with a surveyor doing a “Schedule of dilaps”.
It is served on tenant. They get their surveyor to assess Schedule. Liabilities negotiated.
Tenant either agrees settlement, or carries out works. Liabilities then signed.
What pieces of legislation are relevant to dilapidations?
Dilapidations Protocol (England and Wales), adopted by CPR in 2012
Landlord and Tenant Act 1927
What are the “Civil Procedure Rules”?
Rules introduced in 1998 for the simplification of the justice process, make them cheaper, quicker and simpler, and improve access for non-lawyers.
Introduced “pre-action protocols”.
What is the “Decent Homes Standard”?
Technical standard introduced by labour government in 2000, to ensure homes are brought up to a minimum standard in the public sector.
Must have:
- Reasonable state of repair
- Reasonably modern facilities and services
- Reasonable degree of thermal comfort
hat is the “Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018”?
Rented houses/flats must be “fit for human habitation” - healthy, safe and free from things that could cause harm.
More power to renters
What must a duty holder actually DO under CAR 2012?
- Take reasonable steps to find asbestos, keep details recorded in a survey
- Assess risk of that asbestos to people
- Prepare an Asbestos Management Plan (could involve removing or repairing asbestos material)
- Keep survey/plans up to date
What is “licensed” asbestos work, and what does it involve?
Working with high-risk asbestos (friable, high asbestos content, usually sprayed on, eg. lagging)
- Must notify HSE 14 days before works
- Medical every 2 years
- Risk assessment, emergency arrangements
- Trained workers, suitable insurance
What is “notifiable non-licensed” asbestos work, and what does it involve?
Working with lower risk asbestos, but where risk is higher due to breakage/release of fibres/poor condition of asbestos (eg. hacking up floor tiles)
- Must notify HSE any time before works start
- Medical every 3 years
- Risk assessment, train workers, insurance
What is “non-licensed” asbestos work, and what does it involve?
Working with low risk asbestos, low risk of disturbance (eg drilling holes).
- Risk assessment, train workers, insurance
What is the “Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018”?
Rented houses/flats must be “fit for human habitation” - healthy, safe and free from things that could cause harm.
More power to renters
- Who are the duty holders under the Control of Asbestos Regulations?
Anyone responsible for management, repairs or maintenance in non-domestic building (could be building owner).
Only applies to communal parts of flats – not flats themselves.
Are you aware of any environmental legislation relevant to the work you undertake?
What are the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR)?
Rules introduced in 1999 for the simplification of the justice process, make them cheaper, quicker and simpler, and improve access for non-lawyers.
Introduced “pre-action protocols”, starting with a “claim form” being served by courts.
Different “tracks” of legal pursuit (small claims, fast, multi)
When do (Building) Surveyors encounter the CPR?
- In construction and engineering disputes, claims of negligence.
- Peabody, legal disrepair claims.
- When do the CDM Regulations apply?
To ALL construction work in UK, inc. domestic.
Give me some examples of the key duty holders of the CDM regulations.
- Client
- Principal Designer (only when more than one contractor). If client fails to do so, they are the PD
- Designer
- Principal Contractor (only when more than one contractor) If client fails to do so, they are the PC
- Contractor
Under CDM, is a Principal Designer required on all projects?
No, only where there is more than one contractor (inc. subcontractors).
When is a project notifiable under CDM?
When it exceeds 500 person days, OR there are more than 20 operatives on site at any time and it lasts more than 30 days.
What is a H&S file? Who updates it?
PD prepares it in pre-construction phase.
Contains info that may be relevant to subsequent projects, and maintenance, to ensure their H&S. Given to client at end of project.
Give me some examples of what would be in a:
a. Pre-Construction Information file
- Log of info requested from client
- Name the dutyholders/roles
- Site information
- Project nature, works and key dates
- Clarify requirements for safe working (eg,. Who is responsible for site security)
- Identify safety and health hazards and risks
- Site layout plan
Give me an example of what would be in a B: Construction Phase Plan.
i. Project directory, works programme
ii. General site arrangements – identify unloading areas, welfare, access, traf-fic/pedestrian management systems,
iii. Emergency procedures – Fire, terrorist, bomb procedures, route to nearest hospital, OOH contact umbers, scaffold alarm details
iv. Risk Assessment, and Method Statement
v. Training records, insurance details, accident report forms
Give me an example of what would be in a c. Health and Safety file
i. Same project directory and info BS as before
ii. Hazards left on site (residual) inc. materials used (coatings, paints, flamma-ble etc)
iii. Structural alterations/limitations
iv. Location of services
v. Info on safe operation and maintenance
b. How often should the asbestos management survey be done?
CAR 2012 says “reviewed and revised at regular intervals”, and/or if “plan is no longer valid”, “significant change to the building”
- Why is asbestos dangerous?
Contains micro fibres which inhaled can become lodged in lung tissue, causing damage over long period of time. Cannot be removed.
Can lead to lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma
a. If no asbestos qualification, shouldn’t you have an ‘Awareness’ certificate at least?
I have done CPD, including a course at Peabody with certificate, and RICS seminar in Oxford Circus, and read the RICS Guidance Note
Should I have got an “awareness” certificate? “IATP” awareness certificate exists - £20.
Asbestos - What level of license / notification is there?
Level 1: three categories:
- Licensed work: higher risk works, must be done by “licensed” contractor.
- Notifiable non-licensed work: Lower risk works, but still require 14-day notification to the “relevant enforcing authority” (local authority, HSE, or Office of Rail and Road)
- Non-licenced work: meets HSE criteria, lowest risk
- What are the current asbestos regulations? (L1)
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
What are the main sections of the party wall Act
Section 1 applies where it is proposed to erect a new wall at a boundary that is not already built on.
Section 2 concerns existing party structures, which include party walls, floors and partitions (that separate buildings or parts of buildings), party fence walls (essentially a boundary wall between lands in separate ownership which is built astride a boundary) and, in some instances, a neighbour’s independent property.
Section 6 can apply to excavations up to 6 m away from a building or structure on neighbouring land, subject to depth criteria which the Act sets out.
The three types of Notice are known, respectively as:
Section 1: Line of Junction Notice
Section 3 (for S2 works): Party Structure Notice
Section 6: Notice of Adjacent Excavation