Calls to clamp down on ‘risky’ private building certifiers

Private certifiers have app­roved buildings with structural and safety faults, with almost a third in NSW given the all clear from six “repeat offenders”, it can be revealed.

Almost a third of residential apartment projects in NSW are being approved by “the six most risky, repeat offending” private certifiers in the state.

Sydney’s longest-serving sitting mayor and the head of an Upper House inquiry into building standards are calling on the NSW government to clamp down on private certifiers of construction developments.

Burwood Mayor John Faker says the current system is leaving consumers to chase up builders for defects because private certifiers have app­roved buildings that are not fit for purpose.

Developments have been approved with structural and safety faults and residents ­allowed to move in despite promised features vanishing from the final build.

Burwood Mayor John Faker.

“The issue for me is you’ve got a few bad apples that are in the game,” Mr Faker said.

“They have to understand that there are consequences if you muck up or you do the wrong thing.”

Mr Faker said a recent example saw an apartment block approved by a private certifier despite the builder failing to construct the public garden space that was in the original plans.

Greens MLC David Shoebridge, heading an Upper House inquiry into building standards, said there is a fundamental problem with developers hand-picking — and paying — certifiers to approve their buildings.

“It is time the two-decades long experiment of privatising the regulation of building quality ended and we returned the regulation of building standards to public officials,” Mr Shoebridge told parliament.

“Until that happens, NSW will continue to have the best building standards that unscrupulous developers can buy.”

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler said: “Our data analytics indicate that the six most risky, repeat offending certifiers act for 29 per cent of all class two residential (apartment) projects.”

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler. Picture: Tim Hunter

“Historically the regulator has had the challenge of dealing with risky certifiers after they have done their damage and consumers have been stuck having settled on buildings these certifiers have been complicit in creating,” Mr Chandler said.

“We are now able to deal with them, early.”

The NSW Government argues a ramped up monitoring system has tripled the amount of buildings audited by the regulator before an occupation certificate is issued.

NSW Better Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson said they are investigating “every building these certifiers touch and put every decision they make under the microscope”.

“Our ultimate aim is to either upskill these certifiers or drive them out of the industry,” Mr Anderson said.

“We are also using these new data and analytical tools to triple the amount of buildings audited by the regulator.

“This is a significant increase that will ultimately help drive up confidence in the market.”

Originally published as Calls to clamp down on ‘risky’ private building certifiers