Where work to which building regulations are applicable is proposed or carried out, the building control authority has the powers under subsection (2) for the purpose of ascertaining whether any provision of building regulations is or would be contravened—
The powers are—
Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2) above, the matters with respect to which tests may be required or carried out under that subsection include—
The tests that may be required or carried out under subsection (2) include in particular tests involving—
A building control authority have power, for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been, in the case of a building, a contravention of a continuing requirement that applies in relation to that building—
and in this subsection "continuing requirement" means a continuing requirement imposed by building regulations made by virtue of section 2(1) or (2) or 2A above.
The expense of carrying out any tests that a person is required to carry out under this section shall be met by that person, except that the building control authority, on an application made to them, may, if they think it reasonable to do so, direct that the expense of carrying out any such tests, or such part of that expense as may be specified in the direction, shall be met by the local authority.
Any question arising under this section between a building control authority and a person as to the reasonableness of—
may on the application of that person be determined by the appropriate court or tribunal; and in a case falling within paragraph (b) or (c) above the court or tribunal may order the expense to which the application relates to be met by the building control authority to such extent as the court or tribunal thinks just.