Home buyers stung by unscrupulous builders join forces to tackle devastating flaws in construction industry sector

A startling survey of disgruntled new home buyers claims Queensland Building and Construction Commission officers failed after builders left them in the lurch, leading many of them to suffer six-figure losses and “major mental health problems”.

Subcontractors have lost more than half a billion dollars in five years from builder collapses.

A STARTLING survey of disgruntled new home buyers claims Queensland Building and Construction Commission officers deliberately misled them or fobbed them off after builders left them in the lurch, leading many of them to suffer six-figure losses and “major mental health problems”.

The scale of the problem has forced a group of victims to band together with the express purpose of taking legal and other action against the regulator.

Dave Adams, whose experience with failed Gold Coast builder Queensland One Homes left him $100,000 out of pocket, said lawyers, accountants, doctors and other professionals stung by building collapses had joined the Victims of Construction Action Lobby Group (VOCAL).

Mr Adams said the group was keen to work with subcontractor support groups Subbies United and Subcontractors Alliance to reform the sector through a class action and by pushing for a formal inquiry into the state’s building watchdog.

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David Adams at his unfinished Q1 home at wavell Heights. Pic: Annette Dew

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The group was formed after a survey of 89 unidentified clients of failed builders, which found most blamed the QBCC, and its Home Warranty insurance scheme, for much of their pain.

Almost 60 per cent of the clients surveyed said they suffered “major disadvantage” from the QBCC process and a 19 per cent had suffered “medium disadvantage”.

More than 96 per cent said they suffered some degree of mental health problems throughout their dealings with the QBCC, with 48 per cent describing those problems as “major”.

Brett Bassett, Commissioner for Queensland Building and Construction Commission

Disturbingly, 88 per cent said they received incorrect or inconsistent information from the QBCC and that it caused them hardship; 51 per cent said they had felt “ intimidated, abused or threatened by a QBCC officer” and 77 per cent believed a QBCC officer deliberately mislead them.

The regulator was yesterday unable to comment specifically on the general concerns identified by the survey, but said it took its responsibilities “very seriously”.

“We understand investigative action can significantly impact people’s lives however we will not hesitate to take action whenever necessary to ensure people have confidence and trust in the integrity of Queensland’s building industry,” a QBCC statement said.

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Housing Minister Mick de Brenni. Picture: Clare Armstrong

Mr Adams said many victims could not get meaningful action from the QBCC without going to the media or Housing Minister Mick de Brenni.

“In the past the QBCC has a habit of dividing and conquering individual complaints to make them disappear and we’re fed up,” he said.

“Now we aim to group all victims together to fight for a common cause.”

The lawyer behind the survey, Greg Williams, is now president of the group, which is on the hunt for a firm to back a class action against the regulator.

As well as the class action and the push for an inquiry, the group wants an overhaul of the Home Warranty Scheme, legislative changes to the sector and increased accountability for the Minister and Commissioner for operations of the QBCC.

The group can be contacted on [e-mail]