James Kon
A cafe and a restaurant were issued with notices to vacate after they were found to be operating in modified or renovated premises without an occupation permit (OP), said the Authority for Building Control and Construction Industry (ABCi) recently.
The agency said that under Section 16(1)(a), Building Control Order, 2014; 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.
Any person who contravenes this subsection or fails to comply with any written direction issued is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding BND20,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.
ABCi reminded that owners, operators and tenants of building units or premises are required to comply with the Building Control Order, 2014 (BCO), Building Control Regulations, 2014 (BCR), standards and guidelines for any renovation works and additional or modified units or premises by appointing a qualified person who is legally registered and has a Certificate of Practice under the Board of Architects, Professional Engineers and Quantity Surveyors (BAPEQS), the Ministry of Development (MoD).
It added that construction works must be implemented by a builder who has a valid registration under the MoD and has the appropriate work category. Legal action can be taken in accordance with the BCO 2014 and the BCR 2014.
