Legal & Regulatory

Question 1

Who are the parties to the Party Wall Act?

Answer 1

Building Owner
Adjoining Owner

Question 2

What legislation provides the legal framework for dilapidations?

Answer 2

Landlord & Tenant Act 1927

Question 3

What is the purpose of a Schedule of Dilapidations?

Answer 3

The aim of the Schedule of Dilapidations is to maintain the value of the property and keep the tenant from higher repair costs in the future

Question 4

What is a Scott Schedule?

Answer 4

This is the tenant’s own assessment of the building’s condition and is used to negotiate down the liability due.

Question 5

Who are the main duty holders under the CDM Regulations?

Answer 5

Client
Designer
Contractor

For more than one contractor:
Principal Contractor
Principal Designer

Question 6

What key documents are required under the CDM Regulations?

Answer 6

F10
PCI
CPP
H&S File

Question 7

What tasks should a Designer undertake to comply with the CDM Regulations?

Answer 7

Designer - include the duty to eliminate, reduce or control foreseeable health and safety risks through the design process, such as those that may arise during construction work or in maintaining and using the building once it is built.

Prepare and issue PCI

Review CPP

Prepare and issue H&S file

Question 8

What is the role of the HSE in the event of an accident on site?

Answer 8

It allows us to:

• determine causes
• share lessons
• identify what actions a dutyholder needs to take to prevent any recurrence
• where appropriate, gather evidence to bring a prosecution

Question 9

What does RIDDOR stand for

Answer 9

Reporting of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

Question 10

What legislation/policy covers how asbestos must be treated in a building?

Answer 10

Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012

Question 11

What is the difference between Grades I, II* and II for listed buildings?

Answer 11

Grade I: buildings that are of exceptional interest.
Grade II*: particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
Grade II: buildings that are of special interest.

Question 12

Are there any other categories of listing apart from Grades I, II* and II?

Answer 12

Monuments
Battlefields
Conservation areas
War memorials
Ancient monuments

Question 13

What is a conservation area and what permissions do you need to do building work in the area?

Answer 13

Conservation areas are places which contain special buildings or which have been important in the past. Permitted development rules do not always apply in conservation areas. This means you need planning permission to make any changes if your property is in one.

Question 14

How would you recognise a typical Georgian building?

Answer 14

• Rigid symmetry in building mass as well as window and door placement.
• Brick, stone, or stucco (brick is most predominantly used)
• Hip roofs, sometimes with dormers.
• Window decorative headers.
• Entrance embellishments, such as pediments, arched tops, and ogee caps.

Question 15

How long does Building Control approval last?

Answer 15

3 Years

Question 16

What changes to a property would require conservation area consent?

Answer 16

This consent acts as an extra layer of protection for the area’s heritage and character. It is necessary to obtain this consent before making significant changes to the external appearance of a property, such as alterations to the façade, roof, windows, doors, or boundary walls.

Question 17

When would you expect Building Control to inspect the work on a new build project?

Answer 17

Commencement.

Excavation, (before excavations are filled).

Foundations (before they are covered up).

Laying of damp proof courses.

Installation of new drains (before covering up).

Construction of the primary structure.

Installation of insulation.

Roof construction.

Completion.

Question 18

Where would you put insulation in the ground floor construction of a new office development and why?

Answer 18

Can choose either side of the ground slab, different results.

i.e. below = slower to warm but holds temperature more
Above = quicker to warm, quicker to cool

Question 19

What is the controlling legislation applicable to Party Walls?

Answer 19

Party Wall Act 1996

Question 20

Name the different types of notice under the Party Wall Act?

Answer 20

Party Structure Notice
Notice of Adjacent Excavation
Line of Junction

Question 21

what is the purpose of the Equality Act?

Answer 21

The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society

Question 22

When does the general equality duty apply?

Answer 22

When public authorities carry out their functions, the Equality Act says they must have due regard or think about the need to: eliminate unlawful discrimination. advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who don’t.

Question 23

Who enforces the Equality Act?

Answer 23

Equality and Human Rights Comission

Question 24

How is the Equality Act enforced?

Answer 24

Individuals enforce through the courts

Question 25

How does the Equality Act impact on the built environment and construction?

Answer 25

The Equality Act requires reasonable adjustments to be made in relation to accessibility. In practice, this means that due regard must be given to any specific needs of likely building users that might be reasonably met.

Question 26

What is meant by ‘public authorities’ and ‘public functions’?

Answer 26

A body substantially publicly funded which performs statutory duties, objectives and other activities consistent with central or local governmental functions.

Other things, like law enforcement or the collection of taxes are called public functions under the Equality Act.

Question 27

Why is it important for your client to produce an access statement?

Answer 27

An Access Statement sets out how a new building or environment will achieve inclusive design standards thus enabling access for disabled users.

Question 28

What is standard pressure required for internal door?

Answer 28

Interior doors should require no more than 5 lbs. of force to open. This does not apply to the initial force needed to overcome the weight of a motionless door. Open the door gradually; do not “jerk” it open.