Owner Builder Reports

Owner- Builder Information (Victoria Only)

Who is an Owner-Builder?

If the person named on the Building Permit as both the property owner and the builder then that person is an Owner-Builder.

If there is no Building Permit then the property owner is the Owner-Builder.

Why is the Report required?

Legislation. Prior to selling owner built construction section 137B of the Victoria Building Act 1993 requires the building work to be inspected and reported on by a licenced building practitioner. The Report forms part of the Section 32 transfer documentation at time of sale. The legislation applies to Owner-Builders, in the case of domestic construction, for work completed within the last 6 years and 6 months and other non-domestic work completed within the last 10 years.

Insurance. For domestic work only if the trade value of the work is more than $12000 warranty insurance is required. Trade value of work less than $12000, or non-domestic work, requires a Report only and no insurance.

Most conveyancers, lawyers and in particular members of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers are well aware of this complex legislation. Basic information is available from our office together with assistance in obtaining warranty insurance, if required.

The following informative publications are available by email.

1-Sample Owner-Builder Report.

2-Owner-Builder information.

What is Inspected?

Unlike a standard mandatory inspection, as part of a Building Permit, a specialist s137B Owner-Builder Defects Report also details non-structural and cosmetic building elements. Refer Special Government Gazette 14/05/1996. We often find defects that were overlooked at previous mandatory inspections.

Some common building defects are;

Ground level under house lower than external paving or landscaping.
Insufficient freeboard to floorslab. AS 2870.
Insufficient clearance under windows. BCA 3.3
Incorrect, missing or unsealed Vertical Articulation Joints. BCA 3.3.1.8.
No safety glass.
Scoring of metal valley flashings.
Non compliance of stairs.
Sticky windows and doors.

All our inspections and reports comply with Australian standard AS 4349.1.

To obtain your Owner-builder Report simply ring our office on 1300 558-119 during normal business hours.

We also offer Quality Assurance and Pre-Purchase Inspections for your next home.

Click here for a free email quotation for your Owner-Builder Inspection and Report.