On 1 July 2017, there were changes introduced by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) in regards to the Owner Builder obligations. These changes have been introduced to help ensure that domestic building work undertaken to owner-builder projects is carried out only by an appropriately registered and authorised building practitioner.
Owner Builder Changes
An owner builder must not enter into a major domestic building contract (to perform aspects of building work for the owner-builder) unless that person is registered as a domestic builder and that their registration allows them to carry out the proposed work.
Failure of the owner-builder to undertake ‘reasonable steps’ to ensure that the building practitioner hired is registered, will be considered an offence.
What are considered ‘reasonable steps’?
By using the VBA’s online ‘Find a Practitioner’ tool, anyone can check whether a domestic builder is registered with the VBA and authorised to perform the type of building work you are engaging them to do. By using this tool you will also be able to check that their registration is current and whether they have been the subject of any disciplinary action. You can access the VBA’s ‘Find a Practitioner’ tool through the VBA website.
Read more from our blog about other key changes to owner builder requirements which are already in place.
