Section 17: Approval of persons to give certificates etc.

Building Act 1984 · 1984 c. 55View on legislation.gov.uk

Part I: Building Regulations

Building regulations may make provision for the approval of persons for the purposes of section 16(9) above—

by the Secretary of State, or
by a body (corporate or unincorporated) that, in accordance with the regulations is designated by the Secretary of State for the purpose,

and any such approval may limit the description of work, or the provisions of the regulations, in relation to which the person concerned is so approved.

Any such designation as is referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) above may limit the cases in which and the terms on which the body designated may approve a person and, in particular, may provide that any approval given by the body shall be limited as mentioned in that subsection.

There shall be paid on an application for any such approval as is referred to in subsection (1) above—

where the application is made to the Secretary of State, such fee as may be prescribed,
where the application is made to a body designated by him as mentioned in that subsection, such fee as that body may determine.

Building regulations may—

contain provision prescribing the period for which, subject to any provision made by virtue of paragraph (b) or (c) below, any such approval as is referred to in subsection (1) above continues in force,
contain provision precluding the giving of, or requiring the withdrawal of, any such approval as is referred to in subsection (1) above in such circumstances as may be prescribed,
contain provision authorising the withdrawal of any such approval or designation as is referred to in subsection (1) above,
provide for the maintenance by the Secretary of State of a list of bodies that are for the time being designated by him as mentioned in subsection (1) above and for the maintenance by the Secretary of State and by each designated body of a list of persons for the being time approved by him or them as mentioned in that subsection,
make provision for the supply to local authorities of copies of any list of approved persons maintained by virtue of paragraph (d) above and for such copy lists to be made available for inspection, and
make provision for the supply, on payment of a prescribed fee, of a certified copy of any entry in a list maintained by virtue of paragraph (d) above or in a copy list held by a local authority by virtue of paragraph (e) above.

Unless the contrary is proved, in any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) a document that appears to the court to be a certified copy of an entry either in a list maintained as mentioned in subsection (6)(d) above or in a copy of such a list supplied as mentioned in subsection (6)(e) above—

is presumed to be a true copy if an entry in the current list is maintained, and
is evidence of the matters stated in it.

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Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.