How to Get Building and Construction Defects Rectified

building and construction defectsI had this email recently: Altered slightly to preserve anonymity.

Our building is 8 years old.  From day 1 we have pretty well had problems with a leaking roof.  Each time we called the builder to rectify they have come and done a patch up job.

With the heavy rains, this has been an ongoing issue.  My understanding is the cause has been the box guttering and the design of the building and roof.

We have recently received a quote to repair and completely rectify and the cost will exceed $4,500 dollars each!

Whilst I accept that there will always be ongoing maintenance I do not accept that a building that is only 8 years old needs such major works to rectify this issue and that we have to ‘wear it on the chin’.

I would like to know if you have come across this before and what avenues we have, if any?

What’s being described here is a building and construction defect. And yes it is very common.

A recent study found a whopping 82% of buildings built after 2000 have reported building defects of some sort. And of those who have reported, 85% of them further report the issue has never been rectified comprehensively.

In the searches I’ve done over the last few months I’ve seen:

  • A ten year old building with significant defects estimated at $3 million to rectify
  • A 12 story building with a basement that is unsound
  • A three year old building with in excess 1,000 defects one of which will require a roof replacement

All of these buildings have issues that stem from either the design of the building or the construction phase.

Design Issues

It used to be that what set a building development aside was its amazing location. Now there are a lot of existing buildings to choose from, and a lot of them in similar or even the same location.

The pressure is on developers to come up with something different and / or extraordinary to attract buyers to their offerings. Which they do.

For instance, I saw this amazing concept for a rotating apartment building this week. The whole building revolves so every apartment gets to enjoy a slice of the 360 degree view over time.

As a concept? Nifty.

As an actuality? Call me a Negative Nelly but I foresee that actually turning that concept into a functional building that delivers what’s promised would be difficult to achieve.

That’s the significant problem with design. If new concepts are used in the design they may or may not be a fantastic innovation. Unfortunately which it is isn’t clear until the building is built and it does or doesn’t work.

It’s a significant problem when it just doesn’t work.

Construction issues

One of the issues with addressing building and construction defects is working out whether the problem stems from design or construction.

Construction defects happen, in every structure that gets built or renovated, which is why building contracts include such stringent clauses around rectification.

And it’s easy to see why. Even just building a house there are hundreds of thousands of individual tasks that must be completed. It is simple for something to be overlooked or just done wrong.

The bigger the building the more tasks to be completed and the higher the risk that something, or a lot of things, are not done correctly.

Don’t forget to factor in materials. Sun City Resort is a Gold Coast high rise that experienced significant defects in the window frames installed. They had to be replaced at a cost of millions. Who was responsible sparked a legal battle between the body corporate, developer, builder and window frame manufacturer.

What happens if there are building and construction defects?

The building contract will set out rectification processes for building and construction defects.

Beyond the contracted remedies the builder must also warrant the building.

In Queensland the warranties applying will depend on the type of defects. There are two types of defect;

  1. Category 1 or structural defects
  2. Category 2 or cosmetic defects

Different warranty periods apply to different categories.

For category 2 defects there is six months from practical completion to rectify defects. One of the first things the newly established body corporate should do is report any cosmetic defects.

For category 1 defects there is 6 ½ year warranty period. To be rectified issues must be reported in that time.

What a lot of body corporates do, particularly larger schemes, is engage an Structural Engineer to inspect the building sometime in the first year or two and produce a report.

That report is submitted to the builder who then, hopefully, comes and rectifies the issue.

A second report is then prepared before the expiration of the warranty period to ensure the previously identified defects have actually been addressed, and to add any new defects that may have manifested.

What if the issue is not rectified?

In this particular case the builder has been notified of the issue, which they have come and addressed. On a number of occasions.

Unfortunately the repair didn’t resolve the issue. What next?

There is a dispute resolution process for building and construction defects that needs to be followed.

In the first instance you must always try and resolve the issue directly with the builder.

If that doesn’t work then your next step is to have a discussion with the Queensland Building & Construction Commission (QBCC). They provide oversight on building contracts in QLD.

The QBCC may encourage you to make an application. Once an application is lodged an inspector will visit the site, inspect the issue and any rectification attempts. If, in their opinion, the issue is a building and construction defect they will issue an Order to the builder to rectify.

The builder should then rectify the issue.

The QBCC Order remains current until the matter is complete. Sometimes the inspector will visit the site again to verify, but in some cases it’s not practical. For instance with water leaks; there may be months, or even years, between repair and the next heavy rains which really put the remedy to the test.

It’s not uncommon for building defect cases to drag on for years.

If the builder does not rectify the issue and is in breach of the QBCC Order the matter will need to proceed to legal action.

Who is responsible for rectification?

When it comes to legal action there are many, many factors that will influence what happens and there is no guarantee that the body corporate will be successful.

The problem with rectifying building and construction defects in body corporates is the circular nature of the contractual obligations.

If you build a house, you hire a builder. There is a contract between you and the builder and it’s all pretty clear cut. The builder must produce what you’ve contracted for and you have remedies if they do not.

With strata schemes the developer contracts with the builder, who produces the product. It’s only when construction is complete that the subdivision is registered which is when the body corporate is created.

The recent land mark Brookfield case clarified this point in a NSW High Court.

The lot owners, and by extension the body corporate, are second owners.

What all this means is when you get right down to the nitty gritty of legal action the duty of care that the builder owes via the contract is not to the body corporate. It’s to the developer, effectively leaving the body corporate and lot owners out in the cold.

The Brookfied case is a NSW case and how it will affect QLD case law is uncertain.

There are certainly body corporates who are successfully pursing legal action for building defects. There are just as many who are not successful. It will come down to a question of the facts in your particular circumstances.

To find out if your body corporate has a case a conversation with a good Solicitor, preferably with body corporate experience, is your best next step.

What other options do we have?

Pursuing matters through the courts is expensive and not guaranteed to succeed.

For some body corporates in the end they simply choose to resolve the matter themselves. The get independent suggestions for rectification, something that would be required for court action as well, and then proceed to getting quotes.

Once a definitive solution is reached the body corporate simply proceeds with the works and the lot owners finance the costs.

At the end of the day it comes down to weighing the trade-offs. Legal action is expensive and there is no guarantee, however that needs to be balanced against the costs of rectification.

A lot of cases reach a settlement where the builder and / or the developer make a cash payment toward the repair works in exchange for indemnity from further legal action.

What if the warranty period has expired?

Outside of the warranty period problems in the buildings are the body corporate responsibility.

But just because the warranty period has expired doesn’t necessarily mean there is no avenue to continue with the dispute resolution process.

Buildings that are experiencing ongoing issues sometimes launch legal action prior to the expiration of the warranty period to ensure the matter is not just forgotten.

Again however that is not your only option. If you have been attempting to get a defect rectified by the builder in the warranty period, and the rectification is not successful, then you may still have legal avenues to proceed.

For instance, my correspondent. Their building warranty had expired (an eight year old building), however, when they contacted the QBCC they found that a previous Order had been made to the builder.

The builder had rectified the issue, but that also means the building warranty on the repair had also reset. They now have until 2017 to continue seeking remedies from the builder for repair of the problem.

What if there are building and construction defects in my lot?

This discussion related to common property of the body corporate. Building and construction defects in your lot are your responsibility. If you find issues in your lot it is your responsibility to raise the issues with your builder.

Do liaise with your body corporate about what they’re doing to rectify defects, and duplicate their efforts with your own complaint. Talk to other affected owners as well if you can. It’s not strictly necessary but it may help you navigate through the process.

Conclusion

Building and construction defects are to be expected in new buildings. Resolving them will require persistence and diligence on behalf of the Committee.

It is well worth going through the process because you are entitled to a product (building) free from defect and rectification can be very expensive.

Have an experience with building defects to add? Leave a comment or send me an email, I’d love to hear from you.

Comments

  1. It makes sense that you would want to have building defects managed. It would be bad if you were in a defective building for too long! Depending on the severity of the defect, it could even be dangerous!

  2. We have recently build common retaining wall between two properties. There are water seepage issue between the concrete sleepers used in this retaining wall so there is lot of water coming through everytime it rains and i get lot of water in my yard as it is low side of the retaining wall.

    We have done this work but we had no contract in place and also we have paid the contractor in cash for this work.

    Does QBCC will provide any assistance in getting resolve this dispute with the builder/contractor.

    • Hi Jamie

      That’s a difficult one. Without the contract there’s no way of even knowing if the contractor who did the work is a registered builder. You could always ask them.

      I would contact the contractor and ask him to come back and rectify.

  3. I have a situation where cracking patio tiles were identified on a leasing agents report. I had a look at the structural drawings and thought that the cracks should have been where they were.
    Then we did some site investigations and found that the patios slabs did not appear to be constructed per the engineering documents.
    Then we sought engineering documents from the certifier/council/designing engineer to confirm we were comparing to the correct drawings.
    THEN we had an engineer do another inspection of site and report.
    We also had Christmas over this period.
    I just looked at the QBCC site and it says that a claim for a structural defect must be lodged within 3 months of noticing the defect.
    Can you clarify what is the trigger for this 3 month period? Is it
    A) the first hint that something may be wrong (i.e. a crack) even though it may be fine, or
    B) when you gain confidence that something specific is wrong (i.e. a licensed engineer’s report)?

    Obviously investigating some of these issues can take some time and the QBCC wont even accept a claim form until you have given the builder 14 days to reply!

    • Hi Michael

      I don’t know for sure I’m afraid.

      I would argue that the time you became aware that the issue was a structural defect is when the report saying it was a structural defect was issued. Until that time it was a crack you were investigating.

      I’d make a claim on the builder asap if you haven’t already then proceed with what you have.

  4. It’s not only frustrating to have structural defects in your house, but it could also be dangerous to you and your family. However, inevitable flukes could happen, no matter how good your builder is. Sometimes, it would be a problem with a contractor, or the material used. It all boils down to choosing and hiring the right builder and inspector. Get a builder who can fix the issues promptly and properly (not patch up repairs), and a third-party inspector who will not be partial to the building company to cover up or downplay their mistakes. Spotting structural defects early on is important, especially if it involves water because it can aggravate the damages caused to a house.

  5. Catie Dunbar says:

    Hi
    I found this article helpful as I am on a BCC of an apartment block that is 3 years with substantial water leaks and mould issues and would like to download the free book.
    I have entered my email and pressed download, however I have not received an email to confirm my request.

  6. Theresa Ha says:

    We have just found out todsy that our back lower house roof structure is defected and might caused the roof collapse…the house was built in Point Cook in 2004 by Poster Davis.
    Would any one please help…
    How can we complaint about the structural designed is not safe…?

    Thank you for your help…
    Theresa Ha

    • Hi Theresa

      Are you part of a body corporate? If you property is a residential house it’s your responsibility.

      If you are in a body corporate check your plan. Usually if the property is a house it’s a Standard Format Plan in QLD and that will mean the house is contained within the lot which includes the outdoor yard area. It will be your responsibility to fix.

      Otherwise, for house or body corporate, if its a building defect check with the QBCC (or your state equivalent) to see if there are any remedies there for help.

  7. Hi
    Need some advice please.
    I purchased an apartment in Qld 11 months ago, it is the top floor apartment and on the roof is a communal pool. I’m starting to see cracks and nails being pushed out ignorant my ceiling. Is this the responsibility of the builder/developer to rectify or mine?

    Cheers
    Konrad

    • Hi Konrad

      I’d discuss this with your body corporate. If it is a structural defect then it will be the builder/developer responsibility to rectify. If not, then it may be a common property issue or a lot issue. If its a lot issue then you will need to discuss with the builder. If common property the body corporate should take point.

  8. Victoria Pickard says:

    Hi I would like some advice. I am the voluntary site manager and Chairperson of our body corporate. Our building is 3 years old and the developer and builder still own 9 of the 24 units between them, 6 & 3 respectively.
    We had to lodge through QBCC for 116 fire and safety and waterproofing defects. The DTRs were issued in Dec 2019 and the final report showing the outstanding items was issued in March this year.
    I have had these items all costed totalling $258K to repair.
    We are about to take the builder to QCAT, what I want to know is can we start the repairs prior to going to QCAT and then if we win have him foot the bill, or do we have to wait until the outcome? The reason being that these are fire and safety issues, and if we were to have an incident our insurance won’t pay whilst we have these outstanding defects on file.
    Many thanks
    Victoria P

    • Hi Victoria

      You should discuss this matter with your Solicitor. What you’re after is legal advice and I’m not qualified to help.

      I read in another schemes records just this week that they went ahead and fixed some waterproofing defects for a lot. The same defect arose in another lot and similar situations have arisen requiring many thousands to rectify. They’re finding that their repair of the previous lot has undermined their claim for the balance of the repairs.

      Seek immediate advice. Talk to QBCC if you can, and your owner solicitors as well. It might be the body corporate just has to wear the cost of the fires safety defects in the interests of safety. but then committee open themselves up to claim from owners for not protecting their interests. A thorny problem indeed. I wish I could be more help.

  9. Hi Victoria,

    We recently bought a unit in an 84 unit complex.
    A structural roof defect has been noted in most of the units and the warranty has expired (by 15 years!).
    It seems it is the responsibility of the owners to pay for repairs. The BC has 2 quotes and chosen which contractor to correct these defects. Most owners are required to pay between $4000 and $6000. We have not had an inspection on our roof but are quoted as needing $4500 in repairs from the contractor given the job.
    Are we able to get our own structural engineer quote and use our own contractor depending on their quote instead of handing over $4500 without a proper inspection?
    Let it be noted that we have had no leaks or issues with our roof and had some very severe weather this winter.

    Kind regards

    • Hi Trish

      This is a complex question and needs some further background to answer. Is your scheme a Standard Format Plan or Building Format Plan?

      If a SFP then you are responsible for the roof. Its up to you what you choose to do.

      If a BFP then the body corporate is responsible for the roof. Its up to them to fix. In this situation owners would pay contributions and all lots should be rectified to their varying needs. It shouldn’t make any difference what works are required to which lots as all lots should pay the same amount per contribution lot entitlement.

      So … yeah, not sure what your situation is.

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