Dangerous Structures
Dangerous buildings or structures
Every owner or occupier of a property has a duty of care in so that they are responsible for maintaining their building in a safe condition so it isn't a danger to people using it or people on nearby public roads or footpaths.
If your building or structure becomes dangerous or open and vacant it is your responsibility to secure the premises and remove the danger by either repairing, making safe or demolishing the building or structure.
Open and vacant properties
Open and vacant properties are properties that are not in use but which have windows or outside doors unsecured (the doors are not locked or are missing).
Derry City Council 00and in some cases, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) are responsible for making sure that these properties are safe and don't cause a threat to the public.
We and the NIHE deal with the following:
- Unused housing which is structurally unstable and would not be made safe by making the property secure
- Unused housing which needs demolishing and which is not attached to other housing
- Any other open and empty property which causes a threat to members of the public, for example, an office or shop
And the NIHE deal with:
- Unused housing which is not structurally dangerous
- Unused housing which needs demolishing and which is attached to other housing that is being used
If you tell us about an open and empty property, we'll decide who should deal with it and contact the NIHE if necessary.
Dangerous structures
Dangerous structures are buildings, parts of buildings or other structures which cause a structural threat, for example, because they may collapse, are a danger to anyone in or around them, or anyone using a nearby public road or footpath.
Derry City Council will treat any report of a dangerous structure within their jurisdiction as a priority, and will investigate all reports of dangerous structures within 24 hours, and most urgent cases within one hour.
Report a dangerous structure or an open and vacant building
During office hours call our helpline:
Tel: 028 71 376 151
or
Tel: 028 72 376 521.
Outside office hours call our emergency line: XXXXXXXXXXX
When reporting a dangerous structure it is necessary that you give as much information and detail to our department, including the property address, what condition the property is in and, if possible, the name, address and contact numbers for the owner.
Dangerous Structures and Places Policy
• To be drafted and posted