What is a Dangerous Structure?
A dangerous structure is any building, or part of a building, that is at risk of collapse or poses an immediate danger to people because of its condition. This can include both occupied and unoccupied buildings, as well as walls, roofs, balconies, chimneys, and other structural elements.
Danger may arise from:
- Structural failure or instability
- Severe deterioration or decay
- Fire, vehicle impact, explosion, or storm damage
- Unsafe temporary works or partial collapse
What Building Control Cannot Deal With
Some issues may be concerning, but they do not fall under Building Control powers and are not classed as dangerous structures under Section 77 of the Building Act 1984.
Please do not report the following to Building Control, unless the issue directly affects a building or structure that is at immediate risk of collapse:
- Fallen or dangerous trees: depending on the location, contact the correct department(s)
- Road defects or damage to pavements, redways, bridges, street furniture, street signs, wall/structure already fallen requires clearing: Highways
- Construction noise, dust, pollution: Environmental health
- Fly tipping and illegal dumping of waste: Environmental Crime Unit
- Unsafe building practices or unsafe scaffolding: Health and Safety Executive
- For skips or scaffolding on public land: Highways
- Land ownership disputes, boundaries, party wall matters: These are private civil matters, not enforceable by Building Control or any council service
- Planning breaches: Planning enforcement
- Damp and Mold: This is landlord’s responsibility
- If unsure: Contact Milton Keynes City Council Customer Service (01908 691691)
Our Role in Managing Dangerous Structures (Section 77)
Building Control has legal powers under Section 77 of the Building Act 1984 to act where a structure poses a danger to public safety.
What we will do:
- A Building Control surveyor will visit and assess the danger
- We will instruct the property owner to make the structure safe
- In urgent cases, we may appoint emergency contractors to carry out immediate works
Costs and liability:
- Any costs incurred — including barriers, emergency works, or specialist service providers — may be recovered from the property owner
What we won’t do:
- We are not required to provide ongoing updates to the person who reported the concern, and their involvement normally ends once the report has been logged for investigation.
Report Dangerous Structure
If you believe a structure may be dangerous, you can report it to Building Control by email or 01908 252721 (Office Hours Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:15) and 01908 226699 (out of hours).
Providing accurate information helps us assess the risk quickly and safely.
Please include the following details:
- Your contact details (or state you wish to remain anonymous)
- Description of the concern: What you have seen, how long it has been like this, and why you believe it may be dangerous
- Date and time: When the issue was noticed
- Exact location: Full address or nearest landmark and What3Words location if possible (to help us pinpoint the site)
- Photos: Clear recent image(s) showing the issue from a safe distance