Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 28, 2006 7:18 pm Has anybody else had experiance in Melbourne with this company?
It has been a nightmare since we signed a contract with them. The house took over a year to build and we had to chase them every step of the way. Major defects were identified but they did not fix them. When we settled they said they would return to fix everything but never did. When the Building Commission became involved they said they would fix everything but never did. Our letters are ignored and phone calls not returned. Too late we now see so much about this company on the internet and it seems many others have similar problems. It seems the Building Commission can do nothing to help us or others. When they were in court last year it cost them $30,000 in fines and costs but that is less than it will cost to fix our house. They are even mentioned in State Parliament as a * builder but continue to trade. Apparently they would rather pay legal fees in VCAT than fix peoples houses. Anyone thinking of building with them do a Google search and read the horror storys. For us it is all too true. Warranty Insurance 3Aug 28, 2006 8:37 pm The problem with the insurance is that you can only claim if the builder dies, dissapears or becomes insolvent. So in our case with Prentice Homes we can not claim as non of these have happened. The insurance we have paid for does not protect us at all. So we are left with the option of giving up as the builder will not return to fix the defects or taking action against them in VCAT where it seems they will use every trick to delay proceedings and increase the legal fees of their poor customers. An interesting report on the story of Lisa who spent $88,000 in legal fees fighting them.
Another interesting situation is that Consumer Affairs can do nothing to help and neither can the Building Commission. So we have the State Government saying use a registered builder but then does not want to know when that builder treats its customers so badley. Now here is a joke. When I phoned the Building Commission about Prentice Homes they said I could take them to VCAT or lodge a complaint with the Building Practitioners Board. The maximun penaty the Board can impose is $5000 and they can not make the builder fix the defects. So for Prentice Homes it is better business just to pay the fine than to actually fix the defects. The warrently insurance in Victoria does not protect home owners at all. If it covered defective work then I'm sure builders like Prentice and Glenvill Homes could not get insurance and would go out of business. In the meantime the Building Commission continues to let them trade and hurt more Victorian's. Re: Prentice/Glenvill Homes 4Aug 28, 2006 11:35 pm As building owners, we do need to be united together and make those irresponsible builder out of business. Which way is more powerful? This is something we can hit back. I suggest we can create a black list of those builders and show other potential building owner all the sad stories. The point is we should not let those builders keep breathing. Re: Prentice/Glenvill Homes 5Aug 29, 2006 9:12 am Alto, builders cannot buy PI insurance. All risk is covered personally. Although that may give some comfort to those seeking revenge, it is disastrous for the rest of us trying to run a legitimate business. We are the only sector, of any industry, any where in the world that has to underwrite our potential insolvency with our personal assets simply in order to continue trading. That is essentially what the Warranty Insurers require of us and it is wrong.
Julie, I agree that it is also wrong that there are many shonks out there however: Quote: The point is we should not let those builders keep breathing Consumer protection in the building industry is a complete farce. It will only change if homeowners and potential home owners write to their sitting State Member of Parliament and key bureacurats complaining about it. With elections coming up there is no time like the present. If you need a list of names and email addresses in each State then let me know. This website is new and may also offer some insights into this problem - they also have a forum! http://www.homeownerswarranty.info/ Re: Prentice/Glenvill Homes 7Sep 08, 2006 5:49 pm Burned
Your story is worse than ours I am sorry for what you are going through. Many people think it is the financial cost but it is also the emotional physical cost. When we were building we paid all our progress payments on time and always thought PH would do the right thing by us and give us the house we agreed to buy. In the end we just felt like we were being treated so dishonestly and did not believe any of their promises to fix everything. I do not know why the Government does not do anything about them. They are listed in Consumer Affairs Annual Report for both 2004 and 2005 as a builder with a large number of complaints. I really wonder how many other customers have gone through the hell we have both been through? Re: Prentice/Glenvill Homes 10Sep 16, 2006 7:26 pm Not too sure what the awards were for. I think when they were prosecuted by the Building Commission last year one of the houses they were prosecuted over was one where they had won an MBA award. I guess the lesson is don't think an MBA award is any sort of guarantee. Re: Prentice/Glenvill Homes 13Sep 19, 2006 3:32 pm When we decieded to build with them the glossy brochure and glowing history was all part of the sales pitch. I guess a history of less than 50 years or one with past firms in receivership is not quite as reassuring. Maybe if we had known we would have looked eleswhere. Isn't there something in Trade Practices legislation about misleasing and deceptive conduct? If so why has the State Government not taken action? Even Other Builders Want Them Gone 16Dec 17, 2006 12:56 pm 1
The Builders’ Collective of Australia inc. Reg No: A0044153G Representing the small to medium Builders of the nation 17th October 2005 Mr Duncan West CEO Vero Insurance Limited 465 Victoria Avenue Chatswood NSW 2067 Dear Mr West, As the National President of the Builders Collective of Australia I felt it necessary to bring your attention to a disturbing development which has been highlighted in the electronic media over the last few weeks. The issue involves the large building company Glenvill Homes (who also trade as Prentice Homes) and who appear to have left a trail of consumer misery throughout the Melbourne suburbs. The project shown on the recent ABC Melbourne Stateline program was in fact a Glenvill Home. If you haven’t seen the program you may download and view at http://www.builderscollective.org.au/Ne ... 090905.wmv The home owner featured on that program has also recently formed a consumer group known as the Home Owners Action Group, many of whom are locked into endless and extremely costly litigation with either Glenvill or Prentice Homes. Both Glenvill and Prentice are to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates court on 24th October, collectively facing over 40 criminal charges brought upon them by the Building Commission in Victoria. The Home Owners Action Group number in the hundreds. What I find most disturbing is that Vero Insurance is still allowing this company to purchase warranty insurance. This company is obviously creating havoc with consumers however your company, who purports to protect Australian consumers, continues to prop them up by not withdrawing warranty insurance eligibility from that company. I find this a disgraceful double standard as the smaller builders whom I represent would not survive one week with such an appalling record as Glenvill and/or Prentice Homes. Consequently can you please answer the following questions? 1. Why is Vero continuing to allow this company to purchase warranty insurance while there is such an enormous amount of adverse data existing in the public domain? 2. When will Vero refuse Warranty Insurance to this company? 3. Who is the Vero manager and independent broker responsible for the Glenvill and Prentice account? 4. Is Glenvill and Prentice on a Category 1 rating or do they have a better arrangement? 5. At what point would and under what circumstances would Vero withdraw insurance eligibility from Glenvill and Prentice Homes 6. Would the same criteria apply to any of our small builder members? 7. When did Vero first become aware of the problems associated with Glenvill Homes from either the Building Commission or Consumer Affairs Victoria? I look forward to your detailed response as soon as possible. Regards, Phil Dwyer Registered Office; 27 Advantage Rd Highett Vic 3190. Mobile 0414 699 905. Ph (03) 9532 1722 Fax (03) 9553 5215 Email dwyerbld@bigpond.net.au www.builderscollective.org.au So what happened? 17Dec 20, 2006 12:41 pm Wow - this seems pretty bad. So what has happened with these building companies? Are they still trading?
Are people still building with them? Regards Re: Prentice/Glenvill Homes 18Jan 08, 2007 9:50 pm Yes they are! They have a display home I drive past daily. In Court Again 19Mar 24, 2007 2:58 pm I see that Glenvill are in court yet again (26 March 2007) against one of their poor clients.
Amazing how this company would rather drag their clients through VCAT rather than actually build the house they have been contracted to build. At one stage it was suggested that they should have their own room reserved at VCAT given the number of times they have appeared. Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 47665 I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 73962 Hi there! Putting the feelers out there for those who have (or almost) built with Arli homes! Interested in your experiences who've built from their stock home designs… 0 1396 |