Building Law Changes to Create Stronger Protections

A new bill introduced in Victoria’s Parliament will provide stronger domestic building protections to avoid costly disputes. A "one-stop shop" will make it mandatory for builders and consumers to work together to resolve building and renovation disputes.

The domestic building dispute resolution service will be run by Consumer Affairs Victoria, and both homeowners and builders will be required to attend hearings when a complaint is made.

Key points:

•           Mandatory conciliation for builders and homeowners

•           Independent advice sought to resolve disputes

•           Builders not allowed to employ their own surveyors

•           Warranty insurance changes expected in 2016

A report from the auditor-general in May found 28 per cent of Victorians had problems with building and renovations, and the current system did not "adequately protect consumers".

That was a massive problem in an industry worth $28 billion a year, Planning Minister Richard Wynne said. "When you hit a snag it's often a big one and when you think that your home is often your most precious asset and indeed most expensive asset, we wanted to ensure we got the system right".