The NSW Government is seeking to protect buyers from “shonky certifiers and dodgy developers” with the new Residential Apartment Buildings Act 2020, which came into effect on Tuesday.
The new laws give the Office of the NSW Building Commissioner powers to stop defective apartment blocks from being built, or sold to prospective buyers.
They also provide recourse if such a sale slips through or a building is later found to not be up to scratch.
“The days of shonky certifiers and dodgy developers ripping off unknowing apartment buyers are numbered,” said Minister for Better Regulation, Kevin Anderson.
“They are officially on notice – we can now stop you pushing defective buildings onto consumers. Developers who have done the wrong thing can also face huge fines
“These new powers provide a massive increase in the level of assurance and protection for consumers. They are a critical step in the NSW Government’s commitment to restoring consumer confidence in the building sector,” Mr Anderson said.
NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler OAM said the laws were designed to protect buyers from the minority of builders who do the wrong thing.
“Our sights are set on the small percentage of industry players who aren’t doing the right thing. Whether you are a builder cutting corners, or a certifier passing work that isn’t good enough – expect action from our new team of inspectors,” Mr Chandler said.
“We acknowledge, however, that sometimes things may not always go to plan, and I want to assure industry that we will work constructively during the audit process with parties who are trying to do the right thing to help resolve issues efficiently.”
