Notice before starting work and further notice when work is “commenced” etc.E+W
15.—(1) At least two working days before the day on which building work starts, the person carrying out the work must give a notice to the approver shown on the initial notice relating to the building work setting out their intention to start the work and the date that work is to start.
(2) Not more than five working days after the day on which the work is to be regarded as commenced the person carrying out the work must give a notice to that effect to the approver.
(3) If the approver is not satisfied the work is to be regarded as commenced they must give the person carrying out the work a notice to that effect (“rejection notice”) within four weeks of the date the notice under paragraph (2) is given, and the rejection notice must give the reasons for rejection.
(4) Where a notice is given under paragraph (2) and the period referred to in paragraph (3) expires without a rejection notice being given, then the work is to be regarded as commenced.
(5) If the person carrying out the work accepts the rejection notice they may not give a further notice under paragraph (2) unless, having regard to the reasons given by the approver, they are satisfied the work is to be regarded as commenced.
(6) A person who gave the notice under paragraph (2) may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal against the decision of the approver to reject the notice provided the appeal is made within 21 relevant days beginning with the day after the day on which the approver gives the rejection notice.
(7) The First-tier Tribunal may allow an appeal under paragraph (6) only if it is satisfied that the decision appealed against was wrong on one or more of the following grounds—
(a)that the decision was based on an error of fact,
(b)that the decision was wrong in law,
(c)that the decision was unreasonable,
(d)that the decision was made without following the procedures set out in the 1984 Act or regulations made under the 1984 Act.
(8) The approver may take such steps, including—
(a)requiring information;
(b)laying open of work for inspection, as it thinks appropriate to check whether the work is to be regarded as commenced.
(9) For the purposes of paragraphs (2) to (8), the provisions of regulation 16 (lapse of initial notices: commencement of work) apply to determine whether work is to be regarded as commenced.