Victorian Building Authority

The VBA wants your help to crack down on unregistered or unlicensed practitioners. You can now report the illegal practice via our new online tip off form: bit.ly/3YXHCLG For building jobs over $10,000 and plumbing jobs over $750, always make sure your practitioner is registered or licensed before you hire them. You can check via our Find a Practitioner tool on the VBA website.

To be eligible for an owner-builder certificate of consent in Victoria, you must meet specific requirements of the Building Act 1993. The main requirements are: ✅ You own the land on which you plan to build ✅ Your project relates to a single domestic dwelling ✅ You live — or plan to live — in the home ✅ You’re not already in the business of building ✅ You’ve completed the VBA’s owner-builder eLearning assessment ✅ You’ve completed construction induction training and obtained a WorkSafe white card ✅ You haven’t been issued with an owner-builder permit in the last five years Some exceptions apply. More information: https://lnkd.in/gCfURrzj

Building surveyor Damian Pisotek acted negligently by issuing a building permit for demolition work in Noble Park on an attached unit that wrongly included a common wall. The protection works were also incomplete and the demolisher was unregistered and uninsured. The VBA has fined Pisotek $27,000 and imposed a two-month registration condition preventing him from accepting new appointments. He’s also been ordered to complete a training course and must bring the outstanding rectification work into compliance by 30 April. The VBA acts within its legislative powers to protect consumers and improve confidence in the building industry. -- Disclaimer: Other individuals or businesses may have similar names to those subject to disciplinary or legal action. You can check a practitioner’s license, registration or disciplinary and prosecution history at the VBA website vba.vic.gov.au.

In Victoria, heat pumps must only be installed by a plumber accredited with the VBA, or an apprentice under direct supervision. The accredited plumber or supervising licensed plumber must hold the correct accreditation in the class for the work they are carrying out. When installing heat pumps, various accreditation classes may apply. For example: • heat pump water heater installation that involves removing a gas water heater must be carried out by a plumber accredited in gasfitting • installation of a self-contained water heater requires accreditation in water supply • connection of refrigerant pipework requires accreditation in both water supply and refrigerated air conditioning. More information in our latest Plumbing Technical Bulletin: https://lnkd.in/gqu2qD6n

Domestic builder Michael Pitman built a shed at a property in Boralma, near Wangaratta, which did not align with the building permit. Pitman failed to complete a mandatory inspection stage, and built the shed piers 13.5 metres from the boundary when the permit specified 30 metres. As a result, the VBA has fined Pitman $2,500. The VBA acts within its legislative powers to protect consumers and improve confidence in the building industry. -- Disclaimer: Other individuals or businesses may have similar names to those subject to disciplinary or legal action. You can check a practitioner’s license, registration or disciplinary and prosecution history at the VBA website vba.vic.gov.au.

Today’s Herald Sun has the story on the suspension of Melbourne builder Andrew Donald Little, of ADL Home Building & Construction. The VBA alleges 58 grounds for the suspension, including: • failing to include fire safety measures in designs • taking money for domestic building work without domestic building insurance • leaving building owners with a non-compliant building requiring significant remediation. Little is appealing the suspension to VCAT. More details at our website https://lnkd.in/gA6QShSD -- Disclaimer: Other individuals or businesses may have similar names to those subject to disciplinary or legal action. You can check a practitioner’s license, registration or disciplinary and prosecution history at the VBA website vba.vic.gov.au.

The VBA is doing more frequent inspections of bedding materials. #Plumbers should be prepared and have the right documentation to hand. ✔️ Ensure all bedding materials used on site comply with the relevant standards ✔️ Keep copies of all delivery dockets ✔️ Keep copies of National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia reports More information at our website: go.vic.gov.au/3PiPgvV

The VBA has suspended Melbourne builder Andrew Donald Little, who uses the business name ADL Home Building & Constructions, citing a risk to public safety. Little has been issued with a show cause notice that details 58 grounds for disciplinary action relating to domestic building sites in Kurunjang and Emerald. The proposed disciplinary action includes: • $160,000 in fines • cancellation of Domestic Builder (Unlimited) and Commercial Builder (Limited) registrations • disqualification from the industry for the statutory maximum 3 years. Little is appealing the suspension to VCAT. --- Disclaimer: Other practitioners may have similar names to those subject to disciplinary or legal action. You can check a practitioner’s license, registration or disciplinary and prosecution history at the VBA website vba.vic.gov.au.

In the last financial year, nearly half of all plumbing complaints to the VBA related to compliance certificates. Licensed plumbers still need to issue a compliance certificate for incomplete work, if requested. Failure to do so within five working days is an offence. More information: https://lnkd.in/gDbyXQHj

In case you missed it, here’s a recap of news coverage of the VBA's Supreme Court injunction against Peninsula Building Projects Pty Ltd and director Clancy John (CJ) Fulton. More information at our website: go.vic.gov.au/41IWOPP