Hi all,
Thinking that my build situation couldnt get anyway worse, where it is now close to 2 years since the build of my house has started and the builder going bust, I found out that somehow the stump inspection stage was not carried out or approved, but yet somehow sub floor and frame stage had already been passed! And now, the building surveyor (who issued the building permit) is claiming that it was the builder's fault for not calling up for the stump inspection stage, and that I am now responsible for getting an engineering certificate to prove the work.
However, since the sub floor stage (which sits on the stumps!) AND the framing stage has somehow been passed by the building surveyor, the build is already well passed its lock up stage and getting some engineer to inspect would mean digging up the finished flooring (polished tassie oak and tiles) to check that the stumps and depth were indeed done correctly. This would be a very costly exercise costing over 15K to rip out the finished flooring and then reinstating it (and this is assuming that the stumps was installed correctly to the depth of 1.5-1.7m deep!).
My question is, isn't it up to the building surveyor to ensure that stage inspections are done in the right order, and that any problems should be rectified before subsequent stages can be passed? To me, it doesnt make any common sense that a framing stage can be passed before foundation stages have been approved.
Luckily, I do have enough evidence and confidence that the work for the stumps were indeed completed correctly. I also have enough evidence that the stumps should have been inspected together with other foundation stage. However, the building surveyor is trying to push all the blame to the builder and not take any responsibility for his action.
I have consulted several lawyers (as well as the VBA) and they all agree that the surveyor is negligent in this matter and should be responsible for the cost to verify the stump stage.
What do people here think? What is the role and responsibility of the building surveyor and isn't it to ensure that things are done correctly in stages so that it doesnt cause problems for the latter stages?
Any input (especially from buidling surveyors here) would be much appreciated. I am quite stressed about the whole situation.
Thanks.