Section 16
Occupation of buildings
(1)
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, no person shall occupy, permit or cause to be occupied, any building or any part thereof where any building works have been carried out unless the
Authority has issued an occupation permit in respect of that building or that part of the building.
(b)
Subject to paragraph (a), an occupation permit shall only be granted if the building has satisfied the necessary conditions set out in the building regulations.
(2)
Nothing in subsection (1) shall prohibit —
(a)
the occupation by any person of any building or part thereof for the sole purpose of preventing any damage to the building or part thereof or any theft of any property therein; or
(b)
the occupation by any person of any building in respect of which a temporary occupation permit has been granted.
(3)
The Authority may, on an application in the prescribed manner in relation to any building, grant a temporary occupation permit in respect of the building subject to such written directions as the Authority may specify and, in particular, those written directions may —
(a)
limit the period for which the temporary occupation permit is granted;
(b)
require such work or alteration to the building to be carried out as may be specified to the satisfaction of the Authority; and
(c)
provide for the completion of the work or alteration before the expiration of a specified period.
Building Control 42
(4)
A temporary occupation permit shall only be prima facie evidence that a building is suitable for occupation and is and shall not be taken to be evidence of compliance with this Act, the building regulations or any other written law.
(5)
The Authority may amend, suspend or, in the event of failure to comply with any written direction issued under subsection (3), revoke any temporary occupation permit.
(6)
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or fails to comply with any written direction issued under subsection (3) is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction —
(a)
to a fine not exceeding $20,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both; and
(b)
in respect of a continuing contravention or failure to comply, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part thereof the contravention or failure to comply continues, and if the contravention or failure to comply continues after the conviction, the person is guilty of a further offence and liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part thereof during which the contravention or failure to comply continues after conviction.