Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Feb 01, 2014 5:17 pm Hi guys, we've just bought a newly build property in QLD. As we were overseas while they built the house, we weren't able to overview the building process. Because we were in a hurry, we assumed that everything was done correctly and handed in the payment only to find out a HUGE LIST of defects upon our stay in QLD. (Making this the worst stay in Australia we've ever had) Some noteworthy defects are: 1. House line isn't connected to the main street line (which should have been done while building the house) 2. Air conditioning drainage system is done really badly, resulting in OCCASIONAL breakdown of the air-cond (the builders blame it on the weather for being too hot) 3. The bathroom gradient isn't according to plan, resulting in detention of water. 4. The outside drain is clogged, and upon further investigation, they found a sponge filled with cement within the drainage system. 5. They 'forgot' to implement a drainage system for one of the air-conds upstairs. 6. We're missing some decorative screens. 7. They've left out LOTS of promised products in the contract. 8. The range hood's duct just redirects the saturated oily air back into the kitchen (they drew a hole and was planning to ventilate the air outwards but didn't actually do it). There's lots more, not to mention that it pisses me off whenever when we ask them to fix the defects they would just drag it for several days and when we get angry they would just say 'We just want you to be happy!'. I mean come on, imagine you buying a house with your life savings only to receive a house full of defects and workers that just drag on and on with the 'promised' improvements, only to say 'We just want you to be happy'. If you really did, you wouldn't have made a house that has caused us so much inconvenience and defects! Any help here is very much appreciated. I tried sending a complain email to them, but their website just rejects it. Edited by Forum Support Again many thanks for any help given and have a great weekend! Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 2Feb 01, 2014 5:31 pm Hi piez, I'm afraid you've found out the hard way that you can't leave a house to be built for you and expect that everything will be done properly. If it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one. At this stage your best course of action is to have the build inspected by a good building inspector and, once you have a complete list of defects and things that need to be rectified, send a registered letter to your builders telling them what you have found and what you expect to be done about it. Give them a reasonable amount of time to rectify the problems and then, if they don't respond, you will be in a better position to take your grievances to the Queensland equivalent of the Building Commission. Maybe some Queenslanders on here will have more info for you. Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 3Feb 01, 2014 6:39 pm Liliana Hi piez, I'm afraid you've found out the hard way that you can't leave a house to be built for you and expect that everything will be done properly. If it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one. At this stage your best course of action is to have the build inspected by a good building inspector and, once you have a complete list of defects and things that need to be rectified, send a registered letter to your builders telling them what you have found and what you expect to be done about it. Give them a reasonable amount of time to rectify the problems and then, if they don't respond, you will be in a better position to take your grievances to the Queensland equivalent of the Building Commission. Maybe some Queenslanders on here will have more info for you. Thank you for your advice and i'll try it out! Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 4Feb 01, 2014 7:56 pm I would advise your builder your going to publish your letter of list of defects in your local/town paper and at the end sign off by writing "We just want you to be happy". By all means document all the issues and give them time (like they didn't get enough) to rectify the problems. What happened to sticking by your word (and contract) and providing people what they rightfully paid for? Unfortunately these days some builders need an eye kept on them at all times, i think independent inspections at most stages helps keep them in line. Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 5Feb 02, 2014 9:48 am {quote]As we were overseas while they built the house, we weren't able to overview the building process. Because we were in a hurry[/quote] The opening paragraph says it all. A bad decision and retro action to catch up as detailed above by Liliana unfortunately is the only course open to you - that plus possible legal avenues. Stewie Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 6Feb 02, 2014 11:04 am Stewie D {quote]As we were overseas while they built the house, we weren't able to overview the building process. Because we were in a hurry Quote: The opening paragraph says it all. A bad decision and retro action to catch up as detailed above by Liliana unfortunately is the only course open to you - that plus possible legal avenues. Stewie We lived 1500 klms away - and ended up with a top result. So - being close by isn't necessarily the answer. Having a big builder vis a vis a small one off builder can be good - even if you lose that "specific" build you may have wanted. IMO you are likely to get better redress from a larger firm than a smaller one. Do you have a solicitor. The BSA Qld are one step you might take after getting a proper report. Was your builder licenced ? A simple letter from a solicitor - with the report - might get action. And the implied threat of the BSA if the builder does not do anything. Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 7Feb 02, 2014 3:44 pm *Letter in writing to the builder stating all the missing items and their codes if possible and page of the tender/contract minimizing further screw ups. *Give a time to complete (must be reasonable) like 14-21 days depending what it is with a date listed. *State you will apply to the commission/office of fair trading if they fail to respond or do not complete in the time requested. If you have already done all that, then make a complaint - don't wait, don't give up - that's what they want! Make the complaint - no 'normal' builder wants a potential mark against their name with the licensing body! Provide copies of everything they want and all your correspondence. Really, you shouldn't have to be there, it should be built as per the contract and building standards sheesh we pay good money for these houses! Unfortunately that is not reality and keeping an eye on it yourself or with an inspector can make a big difference...we learned the hard way too. Hang in there Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 8Feb 02, 2014 5:31 pm Quote: We lived 1500 klms away - and ended up with a top result. So - being close by isn't necessarily the answer. Having a big builder vis a vis a small one off builder can be good - even if you lose that "specific" build you may have wanted. I'd say you'd be in the lucky minority SM. Lots of threads on this forum about building work being sub-par and not what was in their contract. The only way to keep on top of the ball is to keep a close eye on proceedings. Hard to do is you're overseas or interstate. Smaller builders would be much more in tune with their clients. Large project builders and you are just a number and get lost in the layers and red tape of a large company. Small builders can't afford to get their clients offside. Stewie Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 9Feb 02, 2014 11:23 pm Lodge a complaint. I believe they will force the builder to fix it or the builder ends up getting a big fine. They follow up on all complaints but I believe the value must be over $3300 or they will just close it. Complaint URL for QLDers: http://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/Homeowners/C ... -work.aspx Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 10Feb 03, 2014 7:30 am Stewie D Quote: We lived 1500 klms away - and ended up with a top result. So - being close by isn't necessarily the answer. Having a big builder vis a vis a small one off builder can be good - even if you lose that "specific" build you may have wanted. I'd say you'd be in the lucky minority SM. Lots of threads on this forum about building work being sub-par and not what was in their contract. The only way to keep on top of the ball is to keep a close eye on proceedings. Hard to do is you're overseas or interstate. Smaller builders would be much more in tune with their clients. Large project builders and you are just a number and get lost in the layers and red tape of a large company. Small builders can't afford to get their clients offside. Stewie Agree to a point SD. We may have been lucky - but we did visit - just not every day - and had weekly phone hook-ups. With both SS and our main contact point. But - I've had more issues with smaller concerns - or individuals than larger ones. From builders to shops. The one-off subbies are more a problem imo. The so-called "tradies" you get to do the smaller jobs after you move in. Promise the world- rarely meet deadlines or deliver quality. You do have to watch these people and ensure they do EXACTLY what you want. AND - NEVER NEVER NEVER pay them up front. But agree with Nectar and WT. You should get what you paid for. DO NOT give in AND make a complaint. don't be talked out of it. Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 11Feb 03, 2014 7:50 am Quote: AND - NEVER NEVER NEVER pay them up front. In NSW according to the Dept of fair Trading , the most someone can ask for upfront is a 10% deposit. If a tradie is just providing labour then they really shouldn't be asking for anything upfront. Quote: But agree with Nectar and WT. You should get what you paid for. DO NOT give in AND make a complaint. don't be talked out of it. Dead right there. Stewie Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 12Feb 05, 2014 12:41 pm Stewie D Quote: AND - NEVER NEVER NEVER pay them up front. In NSW according to the Dept of fair Trading , the most someone can ask for upfront is a 10% deposit. If a tradie is just providing labour then they really shouldn't be asking for anything upfront. Quote: But agree with Nectar and WT. You should get what you paid for. DO NOT give in AND make a complaint. don't be talked out of it. Dead right there. Stewie For contract over $20,000 its actually only 5% Re: [Help] Lodging a complain 13Feb 05, 2014 12:47 pm I get one of this type of cases once a month now, and sadly to say that I see it too often. You would need to do the following: - Put your defects in writing to the builder and wait for response from them - They need to provide you back with the method of rectification and time for rectification - If and only if you can not agree on a course of action or that they fail to comply with your request, then you can follow up the process in court I would recommend that you seek a professional building inspection to compile the list of defects for you and show them your contract. Hi, Appreciate any recommendations for town planners or advisors who can help assist to assess and draft an objection to a neighbour’s development in Northern Beaches.… 0 3616 Hi there, long-time lurker but first time posting. 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