Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 24, 2020 8:03 pm Hi all I believe this question has been asked a few times already but I'm posting it as a new topic because I really couldn't understand the process or get my questions answered. I am concerned that if I go with the wrong building surveyor, they can say that a non-compliant plan is compliant. When the building permit is lodged at the local council, do their engineers look the the plan before approving it or is it only the building surveyors who look at the plans and decide if they are good (compliant)? So as per changes to the Victorian Building Act, the home owner are now required to choose a Building Surveyor. The builde can suggest a surveyor to you and they are still responsible for engaging the building surveyor but you must select one. My questions are: 1. Are building surveyors the only one who can determine whether builder's plans are compliant and issue building permit? 2. Do the builders usually include the cost for this (building permit plus 4 mandatory inspections) in the build price or is this on top of the build price? 3. What sort of cost is one looking at for a 28sq 4 bedroom plus two bath house? 4. Do these building surveyors usually provide the home owner with reports or just to the builder? 5. Are Group Four building surveyors any good? Re: Building Surveyor 2May 31, 2020 8:53 am Thanks for topic, As per my understanding and experience if we used builder's surveyors than its very hard to get inspections report beacuse they woking for builder. We had issues with slab surface and slab conditions, even we surprised framework was terrible and received approvals from surveyor without comments or remarks. House was not finished and got occupancy certificate from tham, we send hundreds of emails but rarely received any clarification from them. Good luck if you using builder's Surveyor. I hope your building Journey will be smooth and excited. Cheers. ghstrida Hi all I believe this question has been asked a few times already but I'm posting it as a new topic because I really couldn't understand the process or get my questions answered. I am concerned that if I go with the wrong building surveyor, they can say that a non-compliant plan is compliant. When the building permit is lodged at the local council, do their engineers look the the plan before approving it or is it only the building surveyors who look at the plans and decide if they are good (compliant)? So as per changes to the Victorian Building Act, the home owner are now required to choose a Building Surveyor. The builde can suggest a surveyor to you and they are still responsible for engaging the building surveyor but you must select one. My questions are: 1. Are building surveyors the only one who can determine whether builder's plans are compliant and issue building permit? 2. Do the builders usually include the cost for this (building permit plus 4 mandatory inspections) in the build price or is this on top of the build price? 3. What sort of cost is one looking at for a 28sq 4 bedroom plus two bath house? 4. Do these building surveyors usually provide the home owner with reports or just to the builder? 5. Are Group Four building surveyors any good? Re: Building Surveyor 3Dec 04, 2020 5:35 am Hi ghstrida, Were you able to get answers, esp. for #1? ghstrida Hi all I believe this question has been asked a few times already but I'm posting it as a new topic because I really couldn't understand the process or get my questions answered. I am concerned that if I go with the wrong building surveyor, they can say that a non-compliant plan is compliant. When the building permit is lodged at the local council, do their engineers look the the plan before approving it or is it only the building surveyors who look at the plans and decide if they are good (compliant)? So as per changes to the Victorian Building Act, the home owner are now required to choose a Building Surveyor. The builde can suggest a surveyor to you and they are still responsible for engaging the building surveyor but you must select one. My questions are: 1. Are building surveyors the only one who can determine whether builder's plans are compliant and issue building permit? 2. Do the builders usually include the cost for this (building permit plus 4 mandatory inspections) in the build price or is this on top of the build price? 3. What sort of cost is one looking at for a 28sq 4 bedroom plus two bath house? 4. Do these building surveyors usually provide the home owner with reports or just to the builder? 5. Are Group Four building surveyors any good? Re: Building Surveyor 4Dec 04, 2020 8:27 am ghstrida 1. Are building surveyors the only one who can determine whether builder's plans are compliant and issue building permit? Here in WA we are just sitting back watching the Victorian building Surveyors debacle unravel Hopefully the VBA will get things back on track soon CODE OF CONDUCT FOR BUILDING SURVEYORS IN VICTORIA OT, Of particular interest is 6 . Documents and maintain records with calculations, insist on Data and Proofs from engineers. Cheers Chris Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Building Surveyor 5Dec 05, 2020 12:44 pm In Victoria the function of Relevant Building Surveyor (RBS) is building control through administration of Building Act 1993, and the Building regulations. This is supposed to be independent administration however due to commercial realities many building surveyors have come to rely on work from volume builders and became compromised. I accepting applications for building permit RBS has to evaluate compliance and only issue building permit after becoming satisfied of compliance. However mandatory inspections are only for health, safety and amenity and the occupancy permit will say so. This leaves large part of construction unsupervised where non compliance, non conformance with building contract creeps in to the detriment of home owner. So unless you have your own independent building consultant looking after your build you will be underwriting your own risk. We are a first world country but in terms of building control we behave like a third world country. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Building Surveyor 6May 11, 2021 12:04 pm HI, does anyone know by signing an authority to appoint a specific build surveyor through the builder, do we as owners give up our rights to receive the inspection reports for all mandatory stages? Or can these reports still be obtained from the builder and are the builders within the rights to keep them from the owners? Re: Building Surveyor 7May 11, 2021 1:10 pm Building permit is in the name of the owner, paid by the owner and owner has all rights Builder is merely agent for the owner and has no rights to withhold inspection certificates Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Building Surveyor 9May 12, 2021 8:29 pm building-expert Building permit is in the name of the owner, paid by the owner and owner has all rights Builder is merely agent for the owner and has no rights to withhold inspection certificates Would you know if the report with a checklist that the building surveyors use at mandatory inspections should be attached to the "pass certificate", as well? I am told that they don't forward any kind of reports, just certificates. Thanks! Re: Building Surveyor 10May 29, 2021 10:43 pm cezz building-expert Building permit is in the name of the owner, paid by the owner and owner has all rights Builder is merely agent for the owner and has no rights to withhold inspection certificates Would you know if the report with a checklist that the building surveyors use at mandatory inspections should be attached to the "pass certificate", as well? I am told that they don't forward any kind of reports, just certificates. Thanks! You could ask the Building Surveyor for the documentation. You are paying for it. Quote from Building Surveyor Code of Conduct 7.2 Engage with your clients, the VBA, and relevant parties in a cooperative manner. This includes:[ol] 7.2.1 Being responsive to reasonable and lawful requests for information or documents. [/ol] Consumer Affairs - Victoria have recently added a heap of information on their website, I would advise that all consumers read this before entering a building contract and throughout the build. Consumer Affairs Victoria - Building and Renovating Did the builder recommend or appoint a Building Surveyor? Your builder may recommend a building surveyor, but cannot appoint a private building surveyor for you. Re: Building Surveyor 11Jun 05, 2021 7:56 am Hi Cezz, under the building legislation the surveyor has to keep a record of the inspection, which you can request, and they have to provide it. The information can be pretty limited and does not have to include a checklist. Re: Building Surveyor 12Jun 05, 2021 8:11 am building-expert In Victoria the function of Relevant Building Surveyor (RBS) is building control through administration of Building Act 1993, and the Building regulations. This is supposed to be independent administration however due to commercial realities many building surveyors have come to rely on work from volume builders and became compromised. I accepting applications for building permit RBS has to evaluate compliance and only issue building permit after becoming satisfied of compliance. However mandatory inspections are only for health, safety and amenity and the occupancy permit will say so. This leaves large part of construction unsupervised where non compliance, non conformance with building contract creeps in to the detriment of home owner. So unless you have your own independent building consultant looking after your build you will be underwriting your own risk. We are a first world country but in terms of building control we behave like a third world country. The surveyors role is very limited and the inspection stages generally relate to the structural works, apart from the final. The surveyor dies not undertake quality checks, site supervision, contractural compliance, so it’s always prudent to appoint your own building inspector/project manager etc, especially in relation to volume builds. Re: Building Surveyor 13Jun 05, 2021 8:23 am Thanks guys for the info. So far the surveyor (through builder) have done piers, pre slab and steel inspections. They provided 1page inspection result for each inspection which only has date of inspection and approved result. No report attached other than "approved" certificate for each stage. I will contact the surveyor again and clarify. Thanks! Re: Building Surveyor 15Nov 10, 2021 6:03 pm keyman In Victoria - if the builder fails an inspection and the surveyor has to organise additional inspections, does this additional cost get paid for by the owner or builder? Worth checking your contract you signed with the building surveyor. Thanks for your reply. I will just wait and see I guess. 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