In this book, leading international building and private law experts provide a timely and unique analysis of the real-world problem of building safety, approached through the lens of private law.

It explores the extent to which private law can be part of the solution to - as well as being part of the cause of - the building safety crisis which afflicts people around the world. The book offers policymakers, practitioners and scholars ground-breaking consideration of this vital yet under-considered aspect of the building safety crisis, along with new and valuable insights into the nature, limits and utility of private law.

The book examines the 'symptoms' of the building safety problem (fire, moisture ingress, structural integrity and beyond) across the UK, USA, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, Italy and Canada. It covers the broad spread of categories within the realm of private law, including torts (primarily negligence), contract, and land (real property) law. International experts provide a variety of different perspectives on the complex and rapidly evolving relationship between private law and the measures which policymakers are implementing in response to the building safety crisis. The book examines in detail existing legislative and judicial responses to the crisis, offering guidance as to how statutory regimes addressing the building safety problem (such as the Building Safety Act 2022) can best be understood and developed.

The book results from a joint research project by the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford and Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne.

Explores the extent to which private law norms offer effective ways to promote safe building outcomes.

About the Author

Matthew Bell is Associate Professor of Construction Law at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Susan Bright is Professor of Land Law at the University of Oxford, UK.
Ben McFarlane is Professor of English Law at the University of Oxford, UK.
Andrew Robertson is Professor of Law at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Book Information
ISBN 9781509976607
Author Matthew Bell
Format Hardback
Page Count 384
Imprint Hart Publishing
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC