Victorian Building Authority

Sent e-mails over the span of a year, called over the span of a year, been on hold for over an hour each time to then be advised by an automated message that they have a system error with their phones.

How are we meant to expose these Builders and their lack of respect for the money we own and spend on "quality" homes. Dangerous driveways where medical and fire services cannot gain access, furniture trucks cannot deliver furniture, family and friends are too scared to even attempt to drive up and homes with ample water leaks that not even being attended to by qualified plumbers but the likes of a Builder and his two unqualified tradies, in a way to save money on decent trades.

Where else are we to turn?

I am a Healthcare Worker. I don't have time to sit on hold on my days off.

The VBA Disciplinary Unit has had our case for over a year and never responds to requests for information and updates. Emails have been sent and met with silence. Our first attempt to phone we sat on hold for hours with no answer.

Our family was financially destroyed by a dodgy builder and this organisation claims to regulate the industry, yet they fail to engage with complainants and follow up on issues which have caused innocent people significant harm and loss. They are grossly ineffective and may as well issue builders with licenses to scam and defraud because that is the effect they have on the industry.

A disgrace of an organisation that should not exist because it does more harm that good in the community.

I also contacted the Victorian Minister for Consumer Affairs but was immediately referred back to this organisation. The Minister and the public has put this organisation in charge of a fundamental set of laws, and the integrity of the administration of those laws is what progresses us as a society and keeps fundamental standards at a level they should be. The VBA is grossly failing the community and the state of Victoria.

This Public Agency for which we all pay deserves zero stars. Victorian Building Authority initiated an inspection on plumber's work done at our property. Faults were found, to which we were made aware, but that was it. No action to get the company rectify them. VBA has issued a certificate of compliance that was given to us by the plumber who carried the work. VBA has grossly breached the compliance standards, and still no action followed. I am asking who will take the responsibility for the substandard work? When the fault will be rectified? What is the point of surveying the job when no action is taken afterword?

As a builder, this is a very frustrating over complicated archaic governing body to deal with, with so much neglegence! The goverment needs to intervene here!

This organisation is the most inefficient bureaucracy I have encountered. They take ages to process complaints in the hope that you will just go away. If you want any action you should report them to the ombudsman.

Time to update the review, having discussed now with what sound on paper like senior VBA staff, the VBA tasked with enforcing the building act, acknowledges that building offences have occured. These are s16B indictable offences with 5 years Jail attached. The Parliament amended the building Act in 2017 with s16B breach defines as building without a building permit, against hte building permit & against building regulations. Therefore, the ordinary meaning of the legislation persuant to the interpretation of legislation act 1984 means that if there are substantial noncompliances or building permit breaches an indictable offence has occurred. In our case - builder commenced without a permit, built against the permit and had substantial noncompliances which are still awaiting fixing. VBA has conducted audits and confirmed the above. Despite this, the VBA is refusing to prosecute the builder pursuant to s16B offences.
Since the introduction of these laws for the public protection, the VBA has not to my knowledge prosecuted anyone pursuant to s16B. The reason the VBA gives is that the "law is vague" which is an absurd statement when s16B is quiet clear and we have Lawyers, Independent Judiciary & Legislature whose job is to create, modify and clarify the law. As such the VBA is demonstrably contemptuous of the People, Parliament, Judiciary and the Law. The hold themselves above the law, ignore people, ignore parliament, thumb their noses at the judiciary and as a result are operating what is effectively a mafia that collects protection money from building practitioners & tax payers in return for not prosecuting them for indictable offences. This of course leaves tax payers and victims of crime without justice served.

Looking at two building notices on my property, one of which is to the tune of 1m dollars - our owners cannot weather this. Our only option is to sue which will be long winded, expensive and no guarantee of success. How come the regulatory body hasn't prevented this from happening to innocent owners. This is causing monumental emotional and financial strain and wrecking people's lives through no fault of their own. Building confidence - ha ha ha

Try and find a building practitioner, the page listings only go up to page 10 which doesn't get you past builders that have a business starting with 'A'.
Tried to phone them instead and was on hold for 25 minutes and gave up.

We applied for demolish license twice and they rejected in the end. We've provided all the information as required (paperworks and photos of projects we've done). I can't understand why we can't get the license if we've done so many relevant projects as provided. NITSAS GROUP Demolition & excavation since 1983 Hellas

Was just on hold for over an hour. To then get an automated message saying there is a system problem and can’t take my call. I’ll be going to the online service but all these reviews claim that they wait years and not get a reply. I see prompt replies to public shaming so hopefully it will push me forward in the line and I can change my review.

My attempts to lodge a complaint to the VBA have been like knocking one's head against a brick wall. Complaint first submitted in May and despite numerous attempts to contact via email (no phone service available currently), there has been no response. Then I find that the complaint has been closed without any explanation or notification. Completely unacceptable and unprofessional.

After my first bad review (out of frustration!) my issue was actioned promptly and I was given clear and helpful advice. So all good in the end.

I had a very good and smooth process applying for my builders license. I found the vba to be very responsive in emails and calls. Very helpful and fast, I wasn't expecting this at all but I'm so happy that there are good people out there sitting in their offices, doing good work.

For more than 3 years now the VBA have been aware of a building surveyor that has no formal qualifications, cannot provide proof that he is insured and has systematically made mistakes in his advice, bullied his clients, trespassed and falsified documentation including building notices. All proven in the Magistrates Court, VCAT and through VBA Internal processes and reviews. What is the point of insisting and spruiking that practitioners must be insured in order to be registered if no-one can access that insurance? For reasons unknown this surveyor has gone out of his was to use his authority to intimidate and harass his clients. The VBA have since suspended the surveyor leaving all his clients with building projects in limbo. No other surveyor will take on the work and the VBA refuses access to the surveyors insurer, many believing it is because the policy does not exist. The VBA have done nothing to help the clients move forward with their projects despite the fact that they are the ones that registered the crook in the first place and they are the ones that finally suspended him. Where is A Current Affair when you need them!

Its all good and well to post a response to make people think you are interested in my case however past experience has clearly shown myself and others in the same situation that you don't reply or return calls. You have my name. Be pro-active and ask within your organization. The building surveyor in question is Simon Mattiske.

I wonder how the VBA operates sometimes. There seriously needs to be an over hall as to how the VBA and building industry works in regards to bad building practitioners.
It has been more than 3 years since I raised my complaint against a BS (Building Surveyor) and I am still waiting for the VBA to inform me of what is going on. I have on numerous occasions asked the VBA what is the status of my complaint against the BS. The VBA’s response has either been silence or “we do not discuss internal disciplinary matters”.
The VBA would appear to have failed in protecting everyone before, myself and after me in regards to this BS. Finally, this year (2020) the BS was suspend unrelated to my complaint.
In 2017 when I successfully terminated the building surveyor. The building surveyor refused to hand over the file to the building surveyor. When the BAB finally issued him direction to hand over the file, the BS responded that the file had been destroyed. The file contained all the inspections that he had performed and then claimed that he had never been there. Contradicting the building notices that the BS had issued.
It would be awesome to see the following changes:
1. A demerit points system to make it much easier to suspend and cancel building practitioners.
2. A portal created that contains all the information related to the permit
a. All building practitioners working on the permit.b. All documents
3. Every time an inspection is performed the report must be upload to the portal.
4. When a building practitioner is suspended or cancelled the permit holder is notified
The building act needs to be amended so that it is mandatory that inspection reports and notices are submitted to the VBA.

Terrible organization to deal with, call waiting times up to 20 minutes then they shuffle you from one section to another section. Now you cannot even contact them by phone. This is 2020?

Had a very recent positive experience with team at VBA. Thank you for your prompt and quick responses with my owner builder application!

So far in my dealings with the VBA, I have found them to be extremely helpful. They have provided me with advice within their scope, and have been really responsive even in this time of the COVID19 lockdown. I want to name the people that have assisted, but don't know about security, so I won't. (CR11125)

I have heard stories of VBA personnel favouring service providers etc.who have internal contacts, but I for now will go with the view that they are independent, and will do the right thing by both parties, when I lodge a complaint with them about our builder and surveyor.

Poor excuse not to have a phone service during COVID. Every other Govt organisation that works from home still have an available contact number so you can actually speak to someone. Seriously unacceptable during these times.

I’m sure you could divert calls to your worker mobiles or home phones. Considering the building industry is rebuilding the nation and economy you could answer peoples call. Every other industry is taking calls from home based employees.
Ridiculous!