Fines and Jail Time Introduced For Illegal Builds

New laws to strengthen Victoria’s building system – including significant fines and jail time for people found guilty of illegal building work – will be introduced into Parliament this week.

The reforms follow the recent demolition of the Corkman Hotel in Carlton and the Lacrosse apartment building fire in November 2014.

The Corkman Irish Pub, previously known as the Carlton Inn, was built 159 years ago and stood on the corner of Leicester and Pelham Streets and was protected by a heritage overlay, was demolished without a demolition permit or a building permit.

The Building Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Bill 2016 also responds to findings and recommendations from the Auditor-General’s report into relating to building practitioner registration, the building permit levy system, and the role of local government.

The Bill addresses long-standing flaws in the building system and aims to protect consumers stamp out home building malpractice and reinforce confidence in the industry.

Reforms include:

• A maximum of five years jail or a $93,276 fine for an individual and $466,380 for a company for anyone who orders or carries out building work without a permit

• New injunction powers allowing courts to make any orders considered appropriate to intervene and  prevent any building work which contravenes the Act – for example, to halt building or demolition work, require rectification works or a rebuild, or stop someone operating as a building practitioner

• New entry and information gathering powers to monitor compliance to building regulations

• Registration of corporations so that consumers can be sure of the builders they are hiring

• Stronger regulation around building inspections to make sure inspectors are qualified, that inspections happen when needed and that records are easily accessible

• Restrictions on entitlement to payment for builders who carry out domestic building work and plumbers who carry out plumbing work without being appropriately registered.