The BMC has proposed that a structural safety certificate, certifying a structure fit for human habitation, be made mandatory for every building older than 30 years, If the owner does not have an audit done, the civic administration will take the initiative, do it itself, carry out repairs if necessary, and then recover the amount from the property tax bill.

Earlier this month, the civic administration issued a circular that says owners of buildings that have 50 per cent occupancy and are over 30 years old will have to submit a certificate from a licensed structural engineer stating that the “building is fit for human habitation”.

“Every monsoon a number of old buildings collapse. We find that many of them had made internal structural changes or not carried out repairs. Disputes between owners and tenants also come in the way of repairs,” said a civic official.

For cessed buildings, which pay a repair cess to MHADA, there is a provision that a MHADA board will look after repair work. For private, non-cessed buildings, there is no such provision.

The civic administration will issue notices to building owners to conduct the structural audit. Each of the 24 civic wards will form a special cell to carry out repairs if building owners refuse. If some owners go to court over recovery of the bill amount, the civic administration has recommended that such cases be admitted only after payment of the pending amount.

A building might also be demolished if the damage is extreme, with the civic administration temporarily shifting its occupants. It will compile a list of buildings that are aged over 30.

Structural audits for private buildings were first suggested by the BMC after the Laxmi Chhaya Building collapsed in Borivli in 2007, killing over 25. Following the collapse of Sayyed House last year, which killed six, a report suggested amending the Land Acquisition Act so that a dilapidated property can be acquired for repairs even if the owner objects. It also recommended that before issuing a no-objection certificate for re-development of a cessed building, a structural audit of adjoining buildings be made mandatory.