Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jan 16, 2021 6:04 am HI everyone, I need some urgent advice. We are selling our house and have made improvements to the kitchen and laundry area. Kitchen completed 4 years ago: Replaced old cabinets with new ones and bench top. Stove, Oven and Hood were from old kitchen because they are still quite new. No structural work done. Cost: just under $10k. Laundry room completed 6 months ago: Put in new cabinets and bench top. Used old sink and mixer. No structural work. Cost: under $4k. We were told that we need to submit a 137B owner builder defects report because these improvements/renovations are done within 6.5 years before selling and BY LAW these renovations/alterations needs to be inspected by a building consultant and an 137B report completed and this forms part of the Section 32. There are quite a few private companies doing this and charges around $400-$600 just to inspect the kitchen and laundry work. E.g., https://www.thehomeinspectionhub.com.au/owner-builder-defects-reports/ https://www.jimsbuildinginspections.com.au/explained-owner-builder-warranty-inspections-s137b-of-the-victoria-building-act-1993/ I have checked with VBA regarding this and they said I don't need to do so however now my conveyancer is saying I need to submit this report otherwise the buyer can back out of the sale without penalties. I sincerely appreciate if your comments, experience and feedback on this topic as i am totally confused what to do next. Sincerely, DS Re: HELP ADVICE NEEDED - 137B report for kitchen renovations 3Jan 16, 2021 9:00 am Thanks. So does this means regardless of whether it is above $16k or not as stipulated by VBA, as long as one does any improvements to the house even non-structural like replacing the built-in wardrobe. One has to provide a 137B defects report. Next question is whether we need to provide warranties on such improvements done because the cabinet maker is not going to provide any warranties or at most 12 months. Appreciate your comments. DS Re: HELP ADVICE NEEDED - 137B report for kitchen renovations 4Jan 16, 2021 10:51 am over $16.5k need to provide warranty where do you draw the line on 137b, painting a wall? i think just keep your mouth shut is best policy, house is being sold as it is Re: HELP ADVICE NEEDED - 137B report for kitchen renovations 5Jan 16, 2021 3:03 pm aussieta over $16.5k need to provide warranty where do you draw the line on 137b, painting a wall? i think just keep your mouth shut is best policy, house is being sold as it is Thanks mate. I have just spoken to one of this inspection companies and they said the 137B owner builder defect report is regardless of the cost of renovation, even if it is just $2k. If it is non-structural, then warranty is 2years from date of completion. If it is structural, then need to provide 7 years warranty. Problem is I cannot find this in the legislation. For me if you like the kitchen, you can keep it. If you don't like, you can change it anytime. I doubt kitchen cabinet companies will provide up to 7 years warranty. My question to them was what are they inspecting and how do they judge whether it is a good quality no defects work since there's no structural work involved? They weren't specific in their answers. I think this could be grey area. Problem is my conveyancer is insisting that I get this stating buyer can back out of the sale without penalties. I have contacted HIA as well and hope they will be able to give me a reply soon. I will update here once I get a response so everyone is aware of this. Thanks again. Re: HELP ADVICE NEEDED - 137B report for kitchen renovations 6Jan 16, 2021 7:09 pm I thought if it was like for like (and not permit work) then you can do it yourself? Don’t see why you need an owner builder form if you’re not one. P.S. I didn’t read the links... Hi All, I engaged a tradie to install concrete retaining wall 600-800mm high over 32 meters in Victoria. Sleepers are 200*75*2000 mm installed over 17 steel posts. I… 0 6900 Building Standards; Getting It Right! Don't think they are designed for double brick. WA has a particular way of building and unfortunately that's the way a large amount of sills are finished. 3 7003 Versaloc is a mortarless besser block system that still needs a properly engineered footing. If you just do a 400x200 footing it will fail in time. At 17m long you need it… 1 17414 |