The Impact of Vacant Residential Land Tax on Construction Sites
In Victoria, the Vacant Residential Land Tax (VRLT) applies to residential properties that are unoccupied for more than six months in a calendar year. This could significantly affect builders and developers holding residential sites, especially…
April 30, 2025
Changing or Terminating a Building Surveyor
Streamlining the Process: New Online Form for Changing or Terminating a Building Surveyor While it’s generally best practice for a building surveyor to remain involved throughout the entire building project, there are situations where a property…
April 8, 2025
The New Townhouse and Low-Rise Code in Victoria
The Victorian Government has introduced the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code to simplify and streamline the approval process for residential developments up to three storeys. This includes duplexes, townhouses, and low-rise apartments. The new code is…
March 31, 2025
Proposed New Building Regulations for Apartments
Have your say about the proposed introduction of a building manual and additional mandatory inspections for apartments and other residential buildings. The Victorian Government has released proposed reforms aimed at improving safety, transparency,…
March 26, 2025
New Regulatory Body – Building & Plumbing Commission
The Victorian Government is establishing the Building and Plumbing Commission to enhance consumer protection, streamline industry processes, and enforce post-occupancy repairs. This marks a major shift in building regulation The Victorian…
March 26, 2025
Complex or Standard Gas Installation?
Energy Safe Victoria is responsible for ensuring that all new and existing gas installations are safe and meet requirements as stated in applicable Acts and Regulations. Complex gas installations by licensed gasfitters must lodge an ‘Application for…
June 14, 2022
NCC 2022 Notable Changes
NCC 2022 is now here! The ABCB has released the first stage of the 2022 edition in ‘Preview’ to get you started before it comes into effect on 1 September 2022 Below is an overview of the notable updates to the NCC: Major Changes Livable Housing…
June 14, 2022
Domestic Builder Changes
The class of Domestic Builder – Manager (DB-M) is being phased out and will cease to exist from 30 June 2022. Up until 31 January 2022, building permits could name a DB-M, CDB-M or DBU-40 practitioner as the builder for domestic building work.…
June 14, 2022
Gas Portal
A new online portal for licensed gasfitters to submit a record of gas servicing work has launched on the VBA website GAS PORTAL LINK Effective from 1 June 2022, gasfitters are now required to: > comply with the requirements of AS 4575 in carrying…
June 14, 2022
Partnerships, Domestic Contracts & Insurances
New rules which became effective on 1 December 2020 require building surveyors to check whether the name of a builder and any partnership they are involved with match the corresponding names on the relevant major domestic building contract and…
February 2, 2021