Complaints about building new homes topped complaints to Consumer and Business Services in 2022

We reveal what infuriated SA consumers the most in 2022 – with a new industry taking over the number one spot for most complaints.

Building a new home overtook travel as the biggest concern for South Australian

consumers over the past year.

Consumer and Business Services has released details of 27,000 inquiries from members of the public about shonky businesses for 2022.

As the home builder market struggled after Covid disruption in 2022, CBS fielded more than 1300 inquiries and resolved nearly 120 complaints relating to the construction of a new home.

This was up significantly from 2021, during which 1218 inquiries and 137 resolved complaints were recorded.

The struggling travel industry, also hit by Covid, faired better but complaints were still high.

Six hundred and sixty unhappy customers contacted the consumer umpire’s office to seek help, and 113 complaints were resolved. This was down from 2021 which recorded 710 inquiries and more than 190 resolved complaints.

The perennial issues around the purchase of second-hand vehicles rounded out

the top three with more than 60 resolved complaints.

Housing Industry Association spokesman Stephen Knight said while complaints had increased in the industry by about 10 per cent, construction work had increased by 30 per cent, and length of construction times was a major sore point, not the quality of work.

“We have had an unprecedented two years of challenges which has led to long delays and even now we have about 3000 homes under water with the Murray flood so that will be another challenge,” he said.

Consumer Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels said in total, CBS staff fielded more than 27,000 calls from consumers over 2022, and dealt with more than 1,100 complaints, compared to more than 25,000 calls and around 1,260 complaints resolved in the previous year.

“An increase in material costs and a deluge of work are resulting in a number of

challenges for both the building sector and consumers,’’ she said.

“We are doing all we can to support consumers to ensure their rights are protected in

what is a very difficult time.

“Obviously, travel-related queries hit a significant high during the Covid-19

pandemic, and it’s pleasing to see numbers begin to decline there.

Complaints about building new homes topped inquiries to SA’s Consumer and Business Services.

“We also appreciate that there are significant risks that come with the purchase of

second-hand cars, which is why we have teamed with the Motor Trade Association

on a new campaign to remind people of their rights when buying a second-hand car,

and the risks that come with purchasing online.”

For the rest of this financial year CBS will continue the upgrade and replacement of CBS systems and digitisation of historical files.

There will be a renewed push to ensure fuel price transparency under the Fair Trading Act is adhered to.