Dangerous structures

What is a dangerous structure?

Buildings and other structures, such as garden walls, can become dangerous for many reasons. Often these are linked to neglect combined with old age, fire, strong winds or vehicle impact.

Occasionally these can result in a wider scale emergency being addressed by the emergency services. Our main concern is public safety. If we feel that users, occupants or people nearby a building or structure are at risk, we have powers to resolve the situation.

Please note, the building or structure must pose an imminent safety risk to the public to enable building control to take action. Buildings or structures that are empty or in an unsightly condition may not be considered a risk.

How do I report a dangerous structure?

If you believe a building or structure to be an imminent danger to the safety of the public, please contact us. If you are trying to contact us during out-of-office hours, please call 03301233517.

If you need to report a dangerous structure in the Eastbourne area then you will need to contact the East Sussex Building Control Partnership.

Who is responsible for ensuring the safety of a building or structure?

The owner(s) of the building or structure are responsible for the safety of their property.

What if I suspect there is asbestos in a property?

Information on asbestos is available from our environmental health department. Asbestos regulations in the home are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).