July 2024
Architects, fire engineers, building surveyors fingered over cladding
Victoria’s combustible cladding crisis shows the permit system failed to ensure compliance with building rules, a new government agency report shows.
- Michael Bleby
February 2024
Aware Super’s UK property firm fights $35m cladding bill
Build-to-rent developer Get Living will appeal a tribunal’s ruling, warning that the decision could deter investment in the sector.
- Hans van Leeuwen
January 2024
Aware Super’s UK property play cops a $35m cladding bill
A tribunal found against Get Living, which Aware bought into last year, in a legal spat over who should pay for a post-Grenfell fix at a former Olympic village.
- Hans van Leeuwen
April 2023
Lendlease hunts for new Europe boss to tackle bulging in-tray
Neil Martin is stepping down after four years, and leaves an array of challenges and opportunities for his successor.
- Hans van Leeuwen
February 2023
Lendlease earnings torpedoed by $200m UK provision
The ASX-listed developer says earnings are likely to improve in the current six-month, but inflation and interest rates will influence the pace of recovery.
- Michael Bleby
November 2022
Why this apartment with cladding is safe but not sellable
The combustible cladding crisis is hitting owners with buildings widely regarded as safe because the regulator is slow to give them the stamp of approval.
- Michael Bleby
August 2022
Insurer goes after builder LU Simon on another cladding tower
The damages claim over Melbourne’s second cladding fire in an apartment building raises questions about who will ultimately pay for the losses.
- Michael Bleby
April 2022
Confusion, inconsistency dog NSW cladding fix
More than four years after the government announced plans to fix buildings with combustible panels, work was not complete and some of it may need redoing, a critical report has found.
- Michael Bleby and Martin Kelly
January 2022
UK cladding plan increases pressure on developers globally
The UK is trying to draw a line under a scandal around buildings standards exposed by the Grenfell tragedy and new plans could have ramifications for developers in Australia, too.
- Updated
- Michael Bleby
October 2021
NSW kicks off cladding remediation work
An apartment tower in Sydney’s Darlington was the first of 274 buildings to date to qualify for the state’s subsidised rectification program.
- Michael Bleby
- Exclusive
- Construction
Victoria gives itself more time to take cladding builders to court
Tying up funds in legal battles with builders and consultants would be costly and slow the state process of rectifying combustible cladding on buildings.
- Michael Bleby
September 2021
- Opinion
- Flat Chat
Buyer beware in cladding crisis
Uncertainty around who will shoulder the cost has seen many purchasers walk away, although some hope for a bargain opportunity.
- Sam Tamblyn
June 2021
NSW cladding remediation to kick off this year
The different processes taken by states in rectifying cladding means insurers have to respond to a number of different models.
- Michael Bleby
- Exclusive
- Construction
Victoria’s cladding rectification squeezed as building numbers soar
Building owners say promised funding is being cut, and they are being bumped down the list by an agency that got no extra funding in the state budget.
- Michael Bleby
May 2021
- Exclusive
- Construction
The combustible cladding that isn’t dangerous
A fire safety expert warns assessment of buildings with flammable panels is too rigid and more nuance would make rectification easier – and cheaper – for apartment owners.
- Michael Bleby
March 2021
Appeal court agrees LU Simon shouldn’t pay for Lacrosse cladding
The judgment dashes hope for a quick end to the insurance crisis that has left building industry consultants largely unable to secure cover for cladding-related projects.
- Michael Bleby
February 2021
Builders, architects, insurers await Lacrosse cladding appeal ruling
A legal challenge to the 2019 judgment that hit the consultants - but not builder LU Simon - for use of combustible panels has just wound up.
- Michael Bleby
- Exclusive
- Construction
Moelis enters cladding rectification game
The investment bank will offer mezzanine financing to fund loans to strata groups to remediate combustible panels on their buildings.
- Michael Bleby
- Exclusive
- Building insurance
Cladding’s insurance quandary costs Victoria $7m
Insurers still won’t cover cladding risk and that’s forced Victoria’s government to take out special cover – for its own cladding fix program.
- Michael Bleby
September 2020
- Exclusive
- Construction
Builders' payment claims surge as COVID-19 hits
The pandemic triggered a wave of claims by anxious tradies, who warn NSW building reforms will be hampered without changes to protect lower-level contractors.
- Michael Bleby