On 14 Nov, 08:56, Owain wrote:
On 14 Nov, 01:12, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

I think they can, in the ultimate analsyis , declare it as unfit, or
unsafe for human habitation. Or Elfin safety can.

Environmental Health can condemn as unfit for habitation
Building Control can condemn as structurally unsafe

(AIAUI)

Wasnt there a case of a cottage lived in for years, with water fed from
a stream and no electricity and no mains drainage? then something
triggered the authorities, and they told the occupant that they couldn't
live there as it wasnt fit for inhabitation, despite it having been that
way for 35 years or something?

private water - okay if tested and shown to be potable
private drains - okay if meets environment regulations
no electricity - private supply or gas lighting okay. Current building
regs require fixed lighting and heating installation, but AIUI plumbed-
in gas lighting still meets that requirement.

Owain

but current Bregs apply in the main to *new* dwellings? they couldn;t
seriously retrospectively force some old hermit in a croft on shetland
(or local equivalent) to "as of now" install all that instead of a
peat fire and tilly lanterns - could they? on what basis?

JimK