Building Acts (English) - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition building-acts-english

Definition :

Building Acts (English). The Acts commonly so called apply only to the metropolis, and have been called the Metropolitan Building Acts. The Metropolitan Building Acts, 1855 and 1862 (which were public general Acts), and their amending enactments wee repealed and re-enacted with many amendments by the local and personal London Building Act, 1894 (57 & 58 Vict. c. ccxiii.), and its amending Acts of 1898 and 1905. These in their turn are repealed by the London Building Act, 1930 (20 & 21 Geo. 5, c. clviii.). see LONDON BUILDING ACT.

The old Building Act, par excellence, the (English) Fires Prevention (Metropolis) Act, 1774 (14 Geo. 3, c. 78), although otherwise partial and repealed, has two ss., 83 and 86, which are still in force and (it is submitted) of universal application. See as to s. 86, Ex parte Goreley, (1864) 4 De G. J. & S. 477, but compare Westminster Fire Office v. Glasgow Provident Society, (1888) 13 App Cas 167, per Lord Watson. s. 33 provides for the application of insurance money in reinstatement of insured buildings after damage by fire, and s. 86 that no action shall lie against a person in whose house a fire accidentally begins