Homeowners across Melbourne’s east join together to battle builder

A rogue builder who has left a trail of destruction through Melbourne’s eastern suburbs is still on the tools despite being reprimanded and fined for his dodgy work. But now “traumatised” victims are lining up to take him on in VCAT.

Vishal Mavani is among homeowners in Melbourne’s east unhappy about work done on their homes. Picture: Andy Brownbill

A builder who has left a trail of unhappy customers across Melbourne’s east is continuing to work, despite being reprimanded twice and fined by the Victorian Building Authority for his shoddy work.

Dissatisfied customers claim Reinhold ‘Ron’ Hummel’s work was substandard, illegal and that he uses intimidatory tactics to demand payment before it is due.

Mt Waverley’s Vishal Mavani is heading a group of people who have been victim to shoddy work — and is one of four people with cases before VCAT regarding Mr Hummel’s latest company Hummel Homes.

“The whole saga about this builder is that he doesn’t care about anyone, just his money,” Mr Mavani said.

Monash Leader has seen publicly available documents where Mr Hummel’s original company, Choice Homes Australasia, used the ABN of another company to avoid detection by the Australian Taxation Office.

By the time the tax office discovered the tax debt of almost $1.27 million, Mr Hummel had resigned as director from the company — putting his wife in his place — and had started leading his new venture, Hummel Homes.

This has left the tax office chasing compensation from a company which has no assets, forcing it to begin a liquidation process, all while Mr Hummel continues to work.

The homeowners came together after realising they were not alone in dealing with their issues. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Mr Hummel, who is based in Boronia and lives in Kilsyth, has worked across the outer east as far as Yarra Glen all the way into the inner suburbs including Toorak.

He was also subject to disciplinary sanctions from the VBA earlier this year.

From those two projects, in Bayswater and Lilydale, Mr Hummel was fined a total of $17,350, reprimanded, ordered to complete specific training courses and banned from working at new sites for three months.

Among the reasons for its decisions, the authority referenced Mr Hummel not carrying out work “in a competent manner and to a professional standard”, collecting payments when work had not been completed, working without a building permit and stating in applications that the value of the work was less than the true cost.

Monash Leader has seen an expert witness report stating a Bayswater North garage was not made fireproof despite a requirement to do so.

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Mr Mavani said Mr Hummel needed to be exposed for his shoddy work.

“The big problem we have had until now is that everyone is isolated and no one knows what he’s doing.

“There are many more homeowners who have been traumatised by this builder but, due to isolation and terms of settlement at VCAT, are not able to share their grievances with others.

“We want to avoid any more casualties for homeowners.”

Mr Hummel, who has been contacted for comment, has worked or is working on houses in Bayswater North, Boronia, Chirnside Park, Croydon, Donvale, Heathmont, Kilsyth, Kilsyth South, Knoxfield, Lilydale, Mitcham, Mooroolbark, Mt Waverley, Ringwood, Rowville, Scoresby, Toorak and Yarra Glen.