I have had similarly poor experiences with the QBCC, the Queensland equivalent to the VBA. Water leaked in to our home after renovations were carried out, but the QBCC inspector said that was not the builder’s fault because the builder had carried out work according to a ‘standard practice’, which clearly didn’t take into account the fact that the builder had not complied with the contract. Unfortunately the builder went belly up, so legal action was not an option, and because the QBCC deemed the work adequate, we couldn’t claim insurance.
I have suspicions about a conflict of interest between the building authority and the building industry due to the churn and networking between the two groups.
I believe that reviews into all similar bodies is long overdue. A representative sample of their decisions, and treatment of consumers should be examined.
Anyone have good or bad experiences with their building regulator?
My son is still fighting his case (now in the Supreme Court) to make VCAT make the VBA make the builder to do their job properly. The latest scathing report on the VBA is merely confirming what my son has been saying for several years. Remember my comment about the VBA Inspector reporting that the slab wasn’t too low, but that the ground was too high? The Inspector got all of his information from the builder, and nothing from my son who requested the ‘independant’ inspection by the VBA. Doesn’t that say a lot?
Over and over in the VCAT hearing, I heard ‘It’s standard industry practice’ and when challenged that it did not comply with the building regulations, the response was ‘It’s standard industry practice’ as though that made it okay.
Here’s a thought. Maybe we could appoint a CEO that has some real, hands-on experience in the building arena. I note the current CEO is a graduate of Melbourne Business School and has a lot of experience in politics. Hmmmm. Let’s hope she can cut through the politics, and get real about enforcing compliance. Whilst the VBA should provide assistance to builders, in my personal opinion, the VBA should not be their friend but rather their big stick.
Our experience is Government reliance on private (intended to be independent certifiers) is part of the problem, and not the solution so promoted. Hence one does need to fall back on the State Building Authorities. That the respective consultative bodies tend to include significant industry representation and minimal opportunity for consumers to be part of those bodies is also disappointing.
There are those who might suggest only those with expertise should be given a seat at the table. Our political representatives are often the closest community representatives to what is being recommended or agreed to. And they too are also mostly outside their chosen profession when asked to do so.
The final insult to democracy IMHO is that when any discussions take place (public inquiries excluded) is to consider the lack of transparency. Is every meeting or discussion recorded and publicly shared within the next few days? Whether sound or of doubtful outcome, that one is on the public record might cause many to be more considered in what they are asking or agreeing to.
A topic and discussion specific to an everyday concern on a new build.
