Victoria’s shoddy builders, tradies exposed

Thousands of dodgy Victorian builders and tradies have been put on notice for dodgy works, with more than $385,000 in fines issued last financial year.

Thousands of Victorian builders and plumbers have been issued warnings over shoddy work. Picture: iStock

Thousands of dodgy builders and tradies have been hit with warnings for shoddy work or failing to comply with Victorian building standards.

The Victorian Building Authority sent 3389 notifications to rectify non compliant work to 1602 different building and plumbing workers last financial year.

The most prevalent “building noncompliances’’ related to timber framing, waterproofing and external weatherproofing, fire separations, wall cladding, footings and slabs.

General gas installation, sanitary plumbing and roof drainage systems were among the most prevalent plumbing noncompliances identified.

VBA commissioner Michelle McLean said inspectors had caught tradies cutting corners and breaking the law.

“This year, the VBA conducted more than 500 investigations to determine if building and plumbing practitioners are complying with the relevant legislation,’’ she said.

“And we have not hesitated to take disciplinary action where practitioners have been found to have done the wrong thing.’’

More than $385,000 in fines have been issued to builders and plumbers last financial year.

The VBA can file charges against a person or body corporate for breaches, with prosecution a criminal proceeding heard in the Magistrates’ Court.

There were 130 show cause notices issued and 119 discipline decisions issued across all streams of building discipline, including cladding, according to the VBA annual report.

These included 18 cancellations of registration, 16 suspensions of registration and 64 financial penalties, valued at $385,034.

The VBA received 1746 plumbing complaints and 1791 building complaints in 2022-23.

The number of plumbing complaints increased by 21 per cent compared to last year, while building complaints reduced by three per cent.

Four plumbing prosecutions were issued last financial year.

There were 86 “Code of Conduct for Building Surveyors’’ breaches recorded, compared to 54 last year.

Most breaches related to “performing statutory functions, ensure all decisions and resulting enforcement actions are reasonable, fair and appropriate’’.

Ms McLean said the cost of building works increased by 4.7 per cent compared to the previous year, “creating an increasingly difficult operating environment for building and plumbing practitioners.

“This was reflected in the insolvency of a number of construction companies, which had a profound impact on many people in the community seeking to build a home for their families,’’ she said.

“As well as on the livelihoods of building practitioners, their contractors and suppliers.’’

In 2022-23 there were 105,514 building permits issued in Victoria, with a total cost of works valued at almost $48bn.

“While the number of building permits issued for new builds reduced year-on-year by 12 per cent to 62,334, overall cost of works increased more than five per cent,’’ the report said.

The comprehensive operating result for the VBA was a $8.9m, including $11.2m received for government funded programs.

It would have an operating deficit of $2.3m without the government funds.

Originally published as Victoria’s shoddy builders, tradies exposed