New build questions

Hi All, im new here and almost completed my first home build! Never again, its been a disaster! but you people seem to know your stuff so i wanted to ask a few basic questions about issues we are having.

Issue 1 = concrete
3 months after pouring our driveway still has "wet patches" that look like the concrete hasn't dried. the builder claims it looks fine to him. wont fix it
also the alfresco has been poured with a 70mm overall fall towards the house, so now water pools along the bricks, and doesnt drain.
builders comment = it passed the building inspection so he cant do anything for us.

issue 2 = bathroom mirror
this is a long one so bear with me. The window in the bathroom was shown on our chosen plans between 2 mirrors. the builders suggested we move this window above the mirror, as it looks better, so we said sure move the window above the mirror.
now that the build is completed we walk into the bathroom and notice you can only see from your chin down in the mirror, they put the window too low, and now it's a bathroom for midgets. do we have a leg to stand on here?
builders comment = we signed the contract, so we should have picked this up.... they are the builders, shouldn't they have picked this up?

issue 3 = water tank
our estate has to have a water tank, so yep fine we tell the builder that and they agree to connect the tank.
Our contract says "colourbond down pipes" yet upon building they install plastic down pipes. we ask why and they say for the tank to be connected properly they have to be plastic. Ok cool, not ideal but we like the idea of saving money with the water tank so we say ok.
Now they have only connected the water tank to one down pipe at the back of the house, and we have had 100ml of rain this week, and the tank has barely got a drop in it.
builders comment = no one hooks all of the downpipes upto the water tank

issue 4 = insurance
the builder got the occupancy cert yesterday, and now claims we need to apply for house insurance even though we have not paid the last payment yet, because of all of the above issues. My google searching makes me believe its not upto me to insure a home i dont yet own?

I could go on and on with complaints, but these are the three i really need to be resolved. Anyone have any tips for working with (or against) the builder to get this stuff sorted? Thanks, everyone

Photos would help, especially the concrete

Yeah some photos would definitely help.

Regarding issue 2...how was this not picked up long before completion? Elevations of the windows would've been on the plans. Failing that, did you not walk through the house at any of the progress inspections? Walking in even as early as frame stage and seeing a window cutout at head height where your mirror should be..

In regards to the insurance, it is a standard request from the builders. You get the insurance policy to start from the handover date. The bank will request it as well, that is if you have a mortgage.

Definately get insurance sorted out pronto. Because once that occupany certificate is issued the liability of the house is on you. So if it goes up in smoke and you got no insurance well the bank not going to be happy. Bank will want to see the insurance before they release the final $$$.

Better to be safe than sorry.

Hi ez007 ,


It sounds like a building defect. You might engage a building expert. A building expert can inspect the work to assess if there are defects. If there are defects then the expert can make a report that explains the basis of the defect. If the Builder refuses to rectify the defect then you can rely on the report at the Tribunal. You can seek legal advice from a construction lawyer to enforce your rights.


Cheers,
John