Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Nearly Finished a build in Canberra- opinions sought 2Jun 15, 2014 8:23 am Hi naikii, By "last inspection" the builder obviously means the building surveyor's last inspection. If the house passed this inspection, the occupancy permit can be issued and you can occupy the premises. This does not mean, however, that the house is without defect or built to contract. My short experience of building has taught me that you can never be paranoid enough when accepting handover of your house. I am not familiar with the HIA contract and hopefully somebody who is can provide an answer concerning clause 23; however, it does seem strange that the builder is not prepared to fix a date for PCI. f I were you, I would find my own good building inspector and have him or her go through the house and prepare a defect list before you move in. Depending on what the defects are, it may not even be possible for these to be rectified while you are occupying the house. If the build is late the builder may be trying to avoid paying liquidated damages and that is why they are anxious for you to move in. Does Canberra have the equivalent of a Building Authority where you can seek advice? Is the builder expecting final payment at handover? You need to clarify this. Re: Nearly Finished a build in Canberra- opinions sought 3Jun 15, 2014 9:47 am Hi Naikii, This whole thing sounds funny to me. Here in Canberra we are required to appoint a building certifier - did you use the one your builder "recommended" or choose your own? If you used the recommended certifier, I would suggest finding an independent one and having an inspection done. It is the certifier's responsibility to ensure that a certificate of occupancy can be issued, and there is no way I would be moving in until that is available. If you move in and discover a problem with the construction, there may be claims from the builder that you have caused the problem. Good luck. Variegated Re: Nearly Finished a build in Canberra- opinions sought 4Jun 15, 2014 9:57 am The certifier was appointed by our builder, who he has assured me in the past "works for my behalf" I have already arranged an indépendant inspector who came and looked at an earlier stage, though my builder not aware of this. The hia contract has damages for going over time... $1 per week. Re: Nearly Finished a build in Canberra- opinions sought 7Jun 15, 2014 12:04 pm The building certifier just sounds like the equivalent of the building surveyor here in Victoria. They do not inspect the house for defects or breaches of contract, unless the ACT is more stringent in this regard. If the builder is only paying $1 a week liquidated damages then it is not particularly onerous on him to delay handover until you are satisfied your contract conditions have been met and that you can occupy the house without getting in the way of rectification works, particularly if you have young babies. You don't want them breathing in fumes if the paint needs touchups for example. Re: Nearly Finished a build in Canberra- opinions sought 8Jun 15, 2014 9:42 pm Currently we are in a bit of a bind, stuck living with my mother in law, sharing the single small bedroom with twins, and this gives the builder power as he knows we are desperate to move in. He has given us permission to move in already in his email, and I am currently considering arranging the practical completion inspection as soon as humanly possible.. submitting him a list of defects, and then moving in instantly after, as he wont then be able to say we caused the damage/defects. The paint issue you mentioned could be a problem though, as there is a significant amount of repainting to be done... I have mixed feelings about the builder as a whole, he apparently upgraded the frame and insulation for free, as well as the heating system. He also allowed me to find my own contractors to install solar panels and blinds without adding on the builders margin, which he could have done. But the delays, and cagey behaviour around the practical completion certificate really bother me. On the phone he totally denied the fact that I got to inspect and submit defects, saying it was all done in the following 90 day period after moving in, until I cited the contract... Re: Nearly Finished a build in Canberra- opinions sought 9Jun 15, 2014 9:53 pm You're not comfortable now. Its not going to be better once you are in and chasing the builder! Don't rush it! Staying an extra month in your current living situation isn't going to kill you. You've managed so far! I *know* what its like. I've spent the last 18 months living in my parents house with my partner and his 11 year old daughter. I feel like I'm dying and I want to kill people lol but I'd rather my house be finished properly and not rushed because at the end of the day while my family is driving me insane I do trust them more than any builder. Re: Nearly Finished a build in Canberra- opinions sought 10Jun 16, 2014 8:01 am naikii he apparently upgraded the frame and insulation for free, as well as the heating system. Is this what he said? If he did, ask yourself why? Sorry to sound cynical but after our building experience, I am. Our builder kept on insisting to us that nobody needed to inspect the house; two years later and we are still finding out how "creative" he was in following the contract and the building regulations. The only opportunity you have to ensure that defects which should be fixed are and that the house has been built to contract is before you pay and move in. You may be lucky and the builder may just be trying to do you a favour but if he has built more than one house then he should know about PCI. If he is telling you he doesn't "know", then there may be a reason. While you're about it, why not get Bashworth's e-guide to PCI: http://www.anewhouse.com.au/sample-page/pci-guide/ Re: Nearly Finished a build in Canberra- opinions sought 11Jun 16, 2014 10:00 am Liliana While you're about it, why not get Bashworth's e-guide to PCI: http://www.anewhouse.com.au/sample-page/pci-guide/ Thanks for the link! I just bought it. Probably the best $4 I'll ever spend. Wow I hadn't realised things had gotten that pricey in just a couple of years since I built, that is crazy with how much land is now costing if you aren't lucky enough to… 3 7093 interesting situation what happened after builder issued final invoice? did you list as defect or not does the building surveyor have any responsibility? ie. issuing… 13 46956 Building Standards; Getting It Right! 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