When Specific Performance Fails: Grech v Biltar
Grech v Biltar [2025] VSC 636 Overview In Grech v Biltar Pty Ltd [2025] VSC 636, the Victorian Supreme Court was asked to determine whether a clause in a settlement deed – requiring the builder to carry out rectification works of defects – was enough on its own to justify an order for specific […]
Finally, a Fairer Security of Payment Regime for Victoria after 18 Years
Major Reform on the Horizon for Victoria’s Construction Industry Victoria’s construction industry is about to undergo one of its most significant overhauls in years. The State Government has introduced the Building Legislation Amendment (Fairer Payments on Jobsites and Other Matters) Bill 2025 (Vic) (Bill) to Parliament – the first stage of long-awaited […]
National Construction Code Freeze Sparks Housing Debate
What Is the National Construction Code and why the freeze? The federal government has announced a pause on new residential changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) until 2029, aiming to cut red tape and give builders a more stable set of rules to work with. Only urgent safety or quality updates will […]
Major Shake-Up for Domestic Building Contracts in Victoria
For many families, their home is the single biggest investment of their lives. As Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos noted in the second reading speech introducing the reforms, a home is “the foundation of their future,” which makes it essential that Victoria’s laws around domestic building contracts are “clear, effective and modernised” to protect […]
When Construction Goes Wrong, Insurance Can Step In
Building a home is meant to be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. It’s where savings, ideas, and emotions come together to create something meaningful – a place to live, grow, and feel safe. But sometimes, the process doesn’t go to plan. Defective work, delays, or even a builder who walks […]
The Hidden Promises in Your Building Contract
When you sign a domestic building contract, you might assume that everything you’re agreeing to is written on the page. But what if we told you that, under Victorian law, you’re also agreeing to a series of promises outlined in legislation? These promises are known as implied warranties – non-negotiable obligations that apply by law […]
What’s in Your Building Contract?
Building or renovating your home can be one of the most exciting times in your life – but it can also be one of the most stressful. Between the plans, the costs, and the endless decisions, it’s easy to overlook one of the most important parts of the process: the building contract. If you’re […]
Murray Review and Recent Government Response
In the world of construction, getting paid on time isn’t always a given, especially for subcontractors. Small businesses often find themselves chasing payments or bearing the financial fallout from delays further up the contracting chain. It’s a long-standing problem, and in 2016, the Australian Government decided it was time to step in and seek […]
Victoria Strengthens Insurance Rights for High-Rise Apartment Owners
Are you a new homeowner in a residential complex over three storeys high? Do you worry that your builder may have cut corners – leaving you with defects, stress, and little recourse to make things right? This time, the government has your back. With new legislation, you’re no longer left powerless. No longer will […]
Finally, Real Protection for Homeowners in Low-Rise Buildings
You’ve just moved into your dream home – a place you saved for, hoped for, and imagined for years. But within months, the dream begins to crack – literally. A leaky roof. Warped floorboards. A builder who won’t return your calls. And a system that tells you there’s little it can do unless your […]