- QADAG represents over 6,000 apartment owners with defective buildings
- QBCC "turning a blind eye", says Samantha Reece
- Calls for independent inspections and 10-year liability period
A new advocacy group based in Queensland is attempting to put a stop to sub-standard construction work by builders and developers that are putting lives and health at risk.
The Queensland Apartment Defects Advocacy Group (QADAG) already represents over 6,000 apartment owners, who have been left financially disadvantaged and at physical risk from buying and living in apartments said to be defective.
QADAG is calling on the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) and the statutory body to bring the victims of shoddy construction work to justice by holding offenders accountable.
QLD in the midst of a building defect crisis
Adam Husband, Managing Director of Structural Diagnostics and QADAG spokesperson, called the situation a crisis and encouraged others in similar circumstances to come forward.
“We are dealing with repeated building failures, apartments are being built with no engineering considerations, thought to cladding, waterproofing and fire protection.”
Adam Husband, QADAG spokesperson
Defects in apartments is a far-reaching issue throughout Queensland, with a survey conducted this year by Australian Apartment Advocacy finding 49% of Queensland respondents had experienced a defective apartment. To make matters worse 36% said defects were never resolved despite making complaints.
QBCC looking the other way
Mr Husband said the expert advice provided on behalf of QADAG to address and solve building defect issues are being largely ignored.
“It’s become profitable to ignore expert advice,” he said.
Samantha Reece, Director of Australian Apartment Advocacy (AAA) and QADAG member, said the QBCC is “turning a blind eye to construction essentials”, with people experiencing unacceptable wait times of up to three years for any action to be taken.
Mr Husband described QBCC’s approach to structural and quality integrity as hands off, explaining that while QBCC are happy to help units be built and sold, they will accept no responsibility after the fact.
“The QBCC is failing apartment owners by ignoring and failing to enforce building standards. More than 70% of the defects brought to the attention of the QBCC are rejected.”
Adam Husband, QADAG spokesperson
QADAG have implored the Department of Energy and Public Works, and QBCC to make a greater effort in protecting apartment owners, buyer and the public alike.
Calls for change
QADAG is advocating for fundamental change to the handling of defect complaints, calling for the following to be actioned:
- Consumer complaints must be taken seriously and addressed within a set time frame. Waiting 12 to 18 months for QBCC action is too long.
- A requirement for independent defect inspections needs to be lodged prior to occupancy by the designers or third-party experts.
- A minimum 10-year structural defect liability period, with developers held accountable.
- Mandatory warranty insurance for buildings above three storeys class 2-9.
- Restrictions on the ability of a developer/builder to influence the decision-making process in a body corporate on building defect issues. Currently, developers/builders who still own units in a strata property can exercise control or have substantial voting entitlements on matters they have a clear conflict of interest on.
