11 JUNE 2023
Builders and developers have been told to fix shonky work across 33 properties by NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, as the government announces an extension to the building dispute resolution scheme.
Project Intervene allows owners’ corporations to dob in serious defects in common areas of buildings, provided the buildings are four or more stories high and built less than six years ago, and have the commissioner negotiate with builders and developers on their behalf.
Karen Stiles, the head of the peak body for residential strata owners the Owners Corporation Network, said she supported any initiative that avoided lengthy legal battles for owners.
“Litigation can drag on for many years, and causes huge financial, physical and emotional stress to owners suffering serious defects,” she said.
“It’s also a financial drain on the broader community, overloading our court system. The obvious answer is that the regulator should inspect, assess and place rectification orders on the responsible parties. No drawn out disputes. No strain on innocent owners. Simply enforcing the laws of the land.”
Read full article:> https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/dob-in-a-developer-scheme-extended-as-builders-forced-to-fix-defects-20230610-p5dfkf.html