In a dispute with a builder or contractor? Get an independent, VCAT-compliant report or expert witness from qualified Melbourne inspectors — sensitive, fact-based and focused on resolving your matter as early (and affordably) as possible.
✓ VCAT Compliant Reports ✓ Expert Witness Available ✓ DBDRV Reports
Tell us about your dispute — we’ll confirm scope and a fixed price, no surprises.
Reports prepared to tribunal requirements
Specialist qualifications & experience
Responsive to both parties
Independent expert reports for VCAT
Building disputes vary significantly. We will first review the nature of your matter and confirm whether an inspection, consultant’s report, expert report or expert-witness service is appropriate.
Not every matter requires a VCAT report. Where a matter does proceed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, an expert opinion report is generally needed to support your application. Where the dispute concerns damage caused by construction on a neighbouring site, a dilapidation report recording the property’s condition before those works began is often the strongest evidence available.
Please note: Outcomes in building disputes cannot be guaranteed. Just Inspections provides independent inspection and reporting services and does not provide legal advice.
From a simple technical report through to standing beside you at the tribunal.
If the issues are relatively minor, or there are only a few issues, a simple Consultant’s Report may be adequate. Our office can also discuss the technical report directly with the contractor on your behalf.
An inspector is able to prepare an extensive VCAT legal document that outlines the defect/s being disputed, that covers the facts and provides an expert opinion relating to the issue/s.
We can attend your VCAT hearing as an expert witness, with the specialist qualifications, knowledge and experience required to present evidence. As an expert witness we have a duty to VCAT to provide factual, unbiased evidence — highly valuable in supporting a particular point of view.
Every dispute is different, but most follow this escalation path — and we can support you at every step.
While lines of communication are still open, the builder or contractor may be willing to listen to options that resolve the matter — before the costly stage of tribunal or court.
For relatively minor or few issues, a simple Consultant’s Report may be adequate. Our office can discuss the technical report directly with the contractor on your behalf.
In most disputes between a builder and a home owner, you must lodge with DBDRV before going to VCAT — a free conciliation service supported by expert building advisors. We can complete DBDRV reports to support your case.
We prepare a VCAT compliant report outlining the disputed defect(s), the facts, and an independent expert opinion. In our experience, presenting a contractor with a VCAT compliant report often prompts a response.
If your dispute proceeds to a hearing, we can appear on your behalf as an expert witness — presenting factual, unbiased evidence backed by specialist qualifications and experience.
Just Inspections specialise in a sensitive and responsive approach to both parties in the dispute. Whilst we aim to resolve matters out of court, we have extensive experience preparing independent expert reports for VCAT, insurance matters and building disputes.
If your dispute proceeds to a hearing, we provide you with a VCAT compliant report and can appear on your behalf as an expert witness if required.
A VCAT dispute can sometimes be stressful and difficult to resolve. Having an independent expert third party such as Just Inspections can minimise the stress and enable the process to remain fact based.
See exactly what a VCAT compliant report from Just Inspections looks like before you commit to anything.
Plain-language guidance on the dispute process, plus how we may be able to help you resolve your building dispute.
Ways to present expert evidence at VCAT
Escalation stages we support you through
Years preparing expert reports for disputes
Sample report & dispute booklet
Please note: Attendance at a VCAT hearing is quoted separately from the report. Preparing a report does not include appearing at the tribunal, and we will confirm the fee for attendance before it is booked.
The prices shown are minimum advertised prices and include GST. Your final fee estimate will be confirmed before booking and may vary depending on the property size, location, condition, complexity, access and required scope.
VCAT reports or expert witness reports will vary depending on the nature of the defect/s being disputed and the amount of time required to prepare the VCAT report or act as the expert witness at the court hearing. Contact us for a scope and fee estimate for your specific dispute.
To ensure Just Inspections can best support you in your VCAT report, useful information will be:
Yes — Just Inspections are able to complete reports for Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria (DBDRV). In most disputes between a builder and a home owner, you will be required to lodge a case with DBDRV before going to VCAT. DBDRV is a free conciliation service that is supported by expert building advisors and designed to help resolve domestic building disputes quickly and fairly.
A written VCAT report is an extensive legal document outlining the disputed defect/s, the facts and an expert opinion, prepared for your VCAT application. An expert witness is when our inspector attends your VCAT hearing in person to present evidence. As an expert witness, we have a duty to VCAT to provide factual and unbiased evidence — we don’t advocate for you as such, but our knowledge and experience is highly valuable in supporting a particular point of view. Many clients need both.
Often, yes. In our experience, presenting a contractor with a VCAT compliant report often prompts a response without the matter proceeding any further.
Send us the property details and the inspection you require. Our team will review the information and confirm the appropriate service and fixed price before booking.
