Later deadline for help with recent-build defects

Okay, you can stop panicking … for now.  If your strata committee hasn’t applied for help with new or recent block building defects through the NSW government’s Project Intervene, the deadline for registration has been extended to November.

The extension was announced this past holiday weekend. Previously the closing date was the end of this month.

The program allows owners corporations in buildings less than six years old that have defects to call on the negotiation and mediation expertise of the NSW Building Commissioner and his team to deal with their developers.

The idea is that by helping apartment owners avoid costly, lengthy and often emotionally crippling court battles, Project Intervene provides financial savings and positive outcomes for purchasers of new apartments let down by poor quality construction work.

Since the program launched in mid-2022 about 100 owners corporations have taken up the support provided and 49 building inspections have been completed.

The assistance includes help with repairing serious defects in the common property of buildings, including waterproofing, fire safety systems, structural systems and building services.

The state Government’s wants new or potential property purchasers to have greater confidence in the quality of the work.  To that end, they say, they are creating the state’s first NSW Building Commission – a single body to oversee the regulation, licensing and oversight of the industry.

Also they are rewriting the Building Act into plain English. The plan is to consolidate and modernise many pieces of legislation, some decades old, scattered throughout the state’s statute books.

“The NSW Government wants more owners corporations to have the opportunity to register with Project Intervene to ensure residential apartment buildings with defects are brought up to an acceptable standard,” said NSW Minister for Building (as well as Fair Trading) Anoulack Chanthivong.

“The housing supply crisis that our state is facing will require a surge in construction, if NSW is to retain its young people and families. Ensuring existing apartment buildings are good quality, well constructed buildings will give families greater confidence in this critical industry. 

Building Commissioner David Chandler explained that Project Intervene uses the powers of the Residential Apartment Building Act to compel developers and builders to fix serious defects at their expense.

“While all owners corporations should always take their own legal advice, Project Intervene offers an alternative or parallel pathway to getting serious defects rectified in apartment buildings,” he said.

“The NSW Government is determined to restore integrity to the building and construction industry in New South Wales,” said Premier Chris Minns.

“Building Commissioner David Chandler has done a remarkable job cleaning up the construction industry. This program provides homeowners with the resources of the Building Commissioner when they negotiate with developers to fix defects.

“More than 100 homes have already used this program and we want to encourage more owners to register.”

For more information about Project Intervene, including eligibility, visit the website at www.nsw.gov.au/project-intervene.